Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is currently funding into the treatment and causes of Parkinson's Disease. [55782]
§ Ms JowellThe Medical Research Council (MRC) spent £55.8 million during 1997/98 on neurosciences and mental health research, £2.9 million of which was spent on projects directly related to Parkinson's disease and neuro regeneration.
Through funds managed by the Department, work is currently being commissioned on: 'New Drugs for Parkinson's Disease' and 'Systematic reviews of paramedic therapies in Parkinson's Disease'.
Additionally the following projects have been supported recently:
Evaluation a pilot targeted physiotherapy service for people with Parkinson's disease from diagnosis to end stage;outreach management of people with chronic neurological disability; andscreening people with Parkinson's disease to identify those at risk of falling at Southampton University.