Local Resident Graduates from Parkinson's Research Advocacy Training Program

Local Resident Graduates from Parkinson's Research Advocacy Training Program
Aim Vernon

Local Resident Graduates from Parkinson's Research Advocacy Training Program
Recently, more than forty people living with Parkinson's disease (PD) from across the US, including one Highland Lakes resident, participated in the Parkinson's Disease Foundation's (PDF) Second Clinical Research Learning Institute in nearby Florham Park. The Learning Institute educated its participants about the ways that people living with Parkinson's can contribute to new treatments and a cure for the disease.
Local advocate Geraldine Mulligan was among the diverse group of business leaders, scientists and educators that traveled from 24 states to participate. Ms. Mulligan is a retired businesswoman who held positions with both small local businesses and a Fortune 500 company in New Jersey. Since she was diagnosed over 10 years ago with Parkinson’s, she has been very involved with her community and church. She recently decided to take a more active role within Parkinson’s advocacy.
During the training, Ms. Mulligan attended three days of courses led by national experts, who covered topics such as the basics of clinical research and discussed the potential new Parkinson’s therapies that are currently being studied by scientists. Back home, she is ready to work on a local level to impact the development of new therapies and to raise awareness among people living with Parkinson’s about the role that they can play.
Ms. Mulligan, spoke of her experiences, "I learned so much valuable information at the Learning Institute about how people with Parkinson’s can impact the development of new treatments for our disease. I believe that everyone living with the disease deserves to have access to this information, so I hope to work locally spread the word about the importance of clinical studies in finding new therapies. As part of this work, I am trying to establish an active support group in our area, which among other tasks, would serve to raise awareness about clinical studies."
Executive Director Robin Elliott, commented on the training, "The Parkinson's Disease Foundation believes that inclusion of the perspective and experiences of people with Parkinson's has the potential to benefit the clinical research process and therapies development. We are committed to providing the tools and resources necessary to make this happen – in the hope that the Clinical Research Learning Institute provides the foundation for these motivated consumers to become engaged and involved in a process that directly impacts their current quality of life and strives to find a cure for this debilitating disease."