Parkinson's charity boosts available grants

This year, the Parkinson's Disease Society's Innovation Grants Scheme will increase funding opportunities for research teams to five times a year, the first deadline for applications being on January 29th.

Such grants provide up to £35,000 for projects where knowledge is lacking, with the "high-risk, high-reward" research having the potential to create new avenues towards a cure for the disease.

Dr Kieran Breen, the director of research and development at the Parkinson's Disease Society, explained that Innovation Grants also aim to speed up Parkinson's disease research as funding decisions are approached more regularly and projects are complete within 12 months.

He continued: "Boosting our Innovation Grants Scheme from two calls for applications in 2009 to five in 2010 will mean greater opportunity for scientists to pursue new and innovative ideas.

"This will help to accelerate research and build momentum towards a cure."

One in 500 people, around 120,000 individuals, have Parkinson's disease in the UK.

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