Kent, Surrey and Sussex have proportions of the population in older age groups above the national average, and Parkinson’s disease is primarily a disease of older age, affecting around 1% of people.

A groundbreaking new interdisciplinary group co-led by the University of Surrey has been set up to improve understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease across the region and beyond.

The main aim of this new Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Academic Group (CAG) is to integrate academic research and clinical practice related to Parkinson’s disease across the University of Surrey (Academic Lead: Dr Ellen Seiss), the Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Trust (Clinical Lead: Dr Patrick Trend) and the Ashford & St. Peter’s Hospital NHS Trust (Clinical Lead: Dr Zahid Dhakam).

The Parkinson’s Disease CAG will work with people living with Parkinson’s disease, family carers, service commissioners and providers to develop the key areas of research, teaching and service improvement.

We will design and implement research projects that address gaps in knowledge about (1) cognitive, motor and sleep dysfunctions in Parkinson’s disease, (2) brain mechanisms related to these symptoms, and (3) the need to identify and implement cost-effective service delivery and treatment models for managing the condition and supporting those affected.

In addition, opportunities for increasing teaching related to Parkinson’s disease will be identified and consolidated, covering scientific, medical, and broader aspects of care, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

A new website will be constructed in the first year of the CAG’s operation… watch this space. In the meantime, any queries can be directed to Dr Ellen Seiss.

Some of Dr Seiss’ academic publications relating to Parkinson’s disease:

• Seiss E, & Praamstra P. (2006). Time-course of masked response priming and inhibition in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropsychologia, 44 (6), 869-875.  10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.09.001
• Seiss E, & Praamstra P. (2004). The basal ganglia and inhibitory mechanisms in response selection: evidence from subliminal priming of motor responses in Parkinson’s disease. Brain, 127, 330-339. 10.1093/brain/awh043
• Seiss E, Praamstra P, Hesse CW, & Rickards H. (2003). Proprioceptive sensory function in Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease: evidence from proprioception-related EEG potentials. Experimental Brain Research, 148 (3), 308-319. 10.1007/s00221-002-1291-6