By Rosie Varden, NEC-RIG Co-Lead

Caroline Rassell, CEO of Parkinson’s UK, was keen to attend our Research Engagement Day in March and had very kindly agreed to give a keynote speech. She was eager to make the most of time here in the North East by staying on another day. The extra opportunity to showcase some of the brilliant work going on in the North East and Cumbria was one we, as the NEC-RIG committee, could not refuse!

Dr Rachael Lawson (Co-Lead) very kindly agreed to offer a tour of Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU), part of Newcastle University’s Campus for Ageing and Vitality. This included seeing the spaces and equipment that allow the team to deliver research with participants throughout the region and included an opportunity to try out the excellent Gait Lab. It was great to have demonstrations from Dr Lisa Alcock and Dr Hilmar Sigurdsson, to see this technology in action and talk about the real-world applications of research done here, particularly of assessing walking patterns and falls risk in Parkinson’s.

The tour was followed by a morning of short presentations and discussion from local researchers. Dr Silvia Del Din talked about her work using digital, real-time monitoring to improve clinical care. Dr Hilmar Sigurdsson gave an overview of ongoing work looking at a device to stimulate the vagus nerve to improve walking. Exciting new developments in the diagnosis and management of delirium in Parkinson’s were thought for much discussion based on Rachael’s ongoing work with the DELIRIUM-PD study. Dr Gavin Hudson from Newcastle University took us in a different direction, talking about his fascinating field of expertise looking at markers to indicate Parkinson’s at a cellular level. Bryony Story, research nurse, gave us an inspiring overview of the clinical collaboration that allows many people to participate in research in Gateshead. Dr Rosie Morris (Co-Lead) talked about Northumbria University’s research using a multidisciplinary approach to understand human movement and develop novel clinical assessment tools and Dr Gill Barry talked us through participant involvement in designing the ‘Keep on Keep up’ programme to ensure usability and accessibility. Dr Jenni Naisy talked about her fellowship, which aims to develop a Parkinson’s pain management tookit for healthcare professionals. Professor Richard Walker talked about his collaboration with clinicians and computer scientists to develop the ‘cueband’ wristwatch, an intervention designed to reduce drooling in Parkinson’s. I had the opportunity to speak about my work looking at the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in North Cumbria and how this may affective the delivery of healthcare. 

Everyone talked incredibly enthusiastically about the work that they are doing, in no small part made possible because of Parkinson’s UK. I think it was only lunch and our tummies rumbling that prevented us sharing our work and ideas all day.  I was able to reflect on what a privilege it was, not only to spend the morning with Caroline whose interest and positivity was overwhelming, but also with this fabulous group of researchers undertaking work that is so diverse and worthwhile in our wonderful region.