Parkinson's expert offers hope

Published: 4/6/2014 - Updated: 7 hours ago

BY MIKE SIGOV BLADE STAFF WRITER

A Parkinsons disease expert told hundreds of area patients and their family members who gathered in Maumee on Saturday to have hope in the light of the latest developments in the disease treatment research and called on them to seek information about new treatments and ways to participate in clinical trials.

The Parkinsons therapy pipeline [right now] is one of the most exciting Ive seen over several years, Dr. Brian Fiske said in summation of his keynote presentation as he stepped off the podium. People with Parkinsons should be hopeful about the new treatments that are starting to come to the clinic or are in the clinical testing stage.

Dr. Fiske was the keynote speaker at the 17th annual Parkinsons Disease Symposium themed Todays Research, Tomorrows Hope, which was held at Parkway Place, 2592 Parkway Plaza.

There are a variety of approaches and multiple drugs, Dr. Fiske said during his 60-minute presentation. ... There are lots of drugs and lots of ideas moving into clinical testing phases.

Dr. Fiske is the vice president of research programs for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, where he manages a team of researchers to help accelerate research and drug development for the disease. Since 2000, the foundation has funded more than $450 million to speed finding a cure for Parkinsons disease, according to event organizers.

Topics covered by Dr. Fiske included developments in Parkinson treatment research, new treatments, and new clinical research studies available.

Its been very informative and promising, Barbara Harris, 66, of Tiffin said of the presentation. I think Dr. Fiske gave very good information.

Ms. Harris, a retired paralegal who was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2002, said she had already participated in two clinical trials and that based on what she had heard from Dr. Fiske, she will participate in a clinical trial anytime, if she qualifies.

Read the original:
Parkinson's expert offers hope