The 'Tom Isaacs Award' Recipients

In memory of former co-founder and President Tom Isaacs who died in May 2017 aged 49, The Van Andel Research Institute and The Cure Parkinson’s Trust annually and jointly present this award to a researcher who has shown the greatest impact on the lives of people living with Parkinson’s and/or has involved people with Parkinson’s in a participatory way in their work.

The award is presented in recognition of Tom Isaacs’ vision that a cure for Parkinson’s will be found but greater value is gained from working with people with Parkinson’s in this quest.

Nominations for the 2020 Tom Isaacs Award have now closed. A huge thank you to everyone who nominated. The winner will be announced and celebrated in September!

Award Winner 2019 - Dr Tilo Kunath

Now in its third year, Dr Tilo Kunath is the winner of this year's Tom Isaacs Award... Read more

Award Winners - 2018 Prof. Bas Bloem & Dr Simon Stott

Dr. Simon Stott and Professor Bastiaan Bloem are joint recipients of the Tom Isaacs Award this year! Read more

Award Winner 2017 - Prof. Tom Foltynie

Professor Tom Foltynie, Consultant Neurologist and Researcher at University College, London is the inaugural winner of the Tom Isaacs Award. Read more

Latest

Tom Isaacs Award Winner Announced

The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT) and Van Andel Institute (VAI) have announced Professor Caroline Tanner as the winner of this year's Tom Isaacs Award.

Our Virtual Rallying to The Challenge Meeting – ‘When and How Does Parkinson’s Begin?’

For the first time, this year's meeting for people with Parkinson's, was held online and focussed on the origins and development of Parkinson’s, including triggers, early symptoms and stages of the disease.

Prasinezumab shows signs of slowing motor symptom decline in early stage Parkinson’s

Earlier this year the results of a major clinical trial - called the PASADENA study - were announced. The study was testing an immunotherapy treatment targeting alpha-synclein in people with Parkinson's. The results indicated that the trial had not achieved a positive result based on a predetermined measure of success, but the investigators indicated that there were ‘signals of efficacy‘ in the data and some of these were shared at the 2020 Movement Disorder Society meeting.

The John Black Charitable Foundation joins International Linked Clinical Trials programme as third funding partner

The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT) and Van Andel Institute (VAI) are delighted to welcome a third strategic funding partner, The John Black Charitable Foundation (JBCF), to the International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) programme. Together, these three partners have pledged a total of USD $6.75 million to Parkinson’s research, over three years.

Breakthrough in stem cell treatment for Parkinson's

In a major breakthrough for the treatment of Parkinson's, researchers working with laboratory rats show it is possible to make dopamine cells from embryonic stem cells and transplant them into the brain.

Tom Isaacs

We are devastated to announce that Tom Isaacs, President and Co-founder of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT) died on Wednesday morning (31st May). Tom’s passing was unexpected and swift.

New Evidence Suggests Parkinson's Might Not Start in The Brain

A new study adds to a raft of new evidence which suggests Parkinson's starts in the gut...

Science news

Read the latest Parkinson's science and research news here.

Trials - Repurposed Drugs

Our International Linked Clinical Trials initiative (iLCT) identifies potential new treatments to slow, stop or reverse Parkinson’s disease by 'repurposing' or repositioning drugs that are approved to treat other conditions.

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The NAC Trial - the facts

Our story

Diabetes Drug Potential Disease-Modifying Therapy

The study, published in The Lancet and funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), supported by CPT found that people with Parkinson’s treated with Exenatide for one year performed better in motor tests than those on placebo.