Over 200 delegates will attend a major multi-disciplinary conference in Edinburgh on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September which marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of James Parkinson’s “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy”, which described the condition that now bears his name.  Today, approximately 127,000 people in the UK are affected by Parkinson’s disease.

The ‘Parkinson's Disease 200: Back to the Future’ conference will discuss the latest scientific developments in relation to the disease, the management of motor and non-motor complications of Parkinson’s Disease, and the important role of multidisciplinary teams in caring for people with Parkinson’s.

Professor Roger Barker, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, will give the keynote lecture on current and future therapies for Parkinson’s disease, looking at new treatments, stem cell therapies and drug re-purposing.

The Conference was preceded by a lecture on Wednesday 20 September by internationally-renowned researcher, Professor Andrew Lees, who is a strong advocate of more imagination in medical research and shaking up the established system. He discussed how the works of ‘Naked Lunch’ author William Burroughs inspired his research.

The event has been organised by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Speaking at the event, Dr Conor Maguire, Director of Education at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:

“We are pleased to welcome all of our speakers and delegates to this important multi-disciplinary conference.  It comes on the anniversary of the first book on the disease enabling us to look back at the progress we’ve made in treating the disease and what the future holds for treating patients with Parkinson’s. 

“Parkinson’s is a very complex disease and we know that effective care requires close collaboration between doctors, specialist nurses, allied health professionals and scientists, as well as patients and their families.

“This conference will be a useful opportunity to discuss how doctors and health care professionals can address the disease.

Professor Andrew Lees said:

“Throughout my career, patients have been my primary teachers in neurology, and I have also drawn on experiences from outside my specialty, in my case the author, William Burroughs.

“It is important to emphasise the importance of serendipity in research, the value of self experimentation and the destructiveness of risk aversion and bureaucratic regulation.

“The impact of James Parkinson’s work is still relevant today; he can teach modern doctors humility, that it is never too late to make a mark in medicine and that field work is a vital part of neurology.”

Professor Roger Barker said:

“The symptoms of Parkinson’s are extremely complex and the pathology widespread. As a result, therapies need to be able to target the range of symptoms and changes within the nervous system if they are to become disease modifying.

“We are now entering a phase of therapeutics where we are getting smarter at treating key features of the illness with cells and gene therapies, as well as developing new approaches which could truly prove to be disease modifying.”

Other speakers at the event include:

  • Professor Stephen Gentleman, Professor of Neuropathology, Imperial College London on pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease

  • Professor Dag Aarsland, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London on managing the challenging neuropsychiatric features of PD: depression, dementia and psychosis

  • Dr Tilo Kunath, Chancellor's Fellow, Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh on future regenerative therapies for PD

  • Dr Richard Davenport, Consultant Neurologist, Western General Hospital & Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh on the evolving differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

Notes

  1. The ‘Parkinson's Disease 200: Back to the Future Conference’ is taking place at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September from 9am – 5pm.

  2. The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is an independent standard-setting body and professional membership organisation whose aim is to improve and maintain the quality of patient care.

  3. Interviews are available on request – please contact Lisa Rooke on on 07717 895628