8
SPRING Times
Parkinson's UK announces measures to make research funding more appealing and relevant to members During last year's Annual Branch Meeting (ABM), a workshop was held on Parkinson's research called “Help us help you”. Members were asked for their ideas and opinions and excellent feedback and suggestions were received. One clear message was that members wanted to choose how to give to research and get updates on how the research they helped fund was progressing.
56
Help us make breakthrough
July 2010
our
next
research
We want everyone with Parkinson’s to be able to live their lives completely free of symptoms. So, over the next five years we plan to invest more than £25million in research to bring us closer to a cure. But our research is totally dependent on donations - so we need your help to make sure high-quality research work is not lost through lack of funding.
Parkinson's UK
Everyone's feedback has been taken on board and the Research Directorate is working hard to make changes. They are now piloting a new programme called the Research Funding Programme to members and local groups. The Research Funding Programme gives options - so you can choose how you give to research:
Option 1 – Gift to research (any amount)
You can give any amount of money you can afford to support research taking place in universities and hospitals across the UK. You’ll help fund projects that have the greatest potential to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by With a single donation of £500 or more, you can Parkinson’s. Your money will be used support the vital work of the Parkinson’s UK Brain where the need is greatest and can cover Bank in London. Our Brain Bank is the biggest in the the cost of equipment, the salaries of UK that is dedicated to Parkinson's. Every year, we researchers and the materials necessary to need £200,000 to cover the costs and keep the Brain carry out high-quality research. Bank running. People with and without Parkinson's can pledge to donate their brain to research by joining our Brain Donor Register. Our scientists collect the brains of people who have died and look at the tissue under the microscope to find out what has gone wrong. The donated brain tissue and anonymous donor information is then used by researchers around the world who are With a single donation of £2,000 or more, you can searching for better treatments and a help fund a Parkinson’s UK project of your choice. cure for Parkinson’s. You can support the research project that means the most to you. For example, projects taking place If you choose to support our Brain Bank, at a local university or on a certain topic. we’ll invite you to visit our laboratories to meet our expert team and see how your We’ll help you follow the developments of your gift is making a difference. chosen project and invite you to the project site visit. This will be your opportunity to go behind-thescenes, meet the scientists and find out what progress is being made.