Parkinson’s UK has appointed Dr Arthur Roach as its research director to help it build on a string of recent successes.
Most recently the charity kick-started development of GDNF, a potentially revolutionary Parkinson’s treatment now acquired by Pfizer, after it funded phase I and II trials.
Roach said: “There’s never been a more exciting time in Parkinson’s research. With recent breakthroughs in genetics, I believe we’re on the cusp of finally finding ways to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s, something which no current treatment can do.”
“Parkinson’s UK is in a unique position to ignite collaboration between researchers, companies, doctors and people with Parkinson’s across the globe, so they can work as a superpower to find a cure for Parkinson’s.”
Roach previously spent ten years as senior director of neurodegenerative diseases research at Merck Serono. There he served as its leader for in vitro pharmacology in neurology, including in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
He has also worked as president of the Geneva Pharma Network and founded the clinical-stage Swiss biotech Chord Therapeutics.
Steve Ford, chief executive at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’ve had a hand in an array of fantastic advances in Parkinson’s research in recent years but we still haven’t cracked the Holy Grail of Parkinson’s research – a cure.
“Arthur Roach’s industry background will put fire under our portfolio, focusing our efforts on only the most promising research that has the potential to transform the lives of the 7.5 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s.”