The Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre at UBC conducts the largest peer-reviewed Parkinson’s disease research program in Canada and is recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the Parkinson’s Foundation. Thanks in no small part to you as PPRI’s donors, PPRC has become a thriving hub for groundbreaking research conducted by some of the top scientists in the world.
Current Research Projects
The Bjorn Moller Research Repository (BMRR) is a recently-launched repository for the storage of biological samples, clinical data, and demographic data. Efficiency of clinical research into Parkinson’s disease will increase significantly, as researchers need not wait for new recruitment and collection with each new study.
Determining if externally-applied low frequency ultrasound will diminish or eliminate some of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Measuring the effect of combining exercise, diet, and mindfulness on slowing the development of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Exploring multimodal non-invasive neurostimulation as a possible treatment alternative to surgery for common Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Examining brain energetics in healthy aging and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the effects of exercise and how it alters the bioenergetics of Parkinson’s disease.
This research project will track functional changes within the brain in early Parkinson’s Disease in order to provide a deeper understanding of the development and progression.
Working to develop 3D bioprinting of personalized healthy and diseased neural tissues as a tool for screening medications.
Developing an online platform designed to connect Parkinson’s researchers globally and facilitate genome data sharing from affected individuals.
Strengthening our understanding of how the gut interacts with the brain across the stages of Parkinson’s to inform the development of much-needed therapies for this life-altering disease.
Aiming to improve the way Parkinson’s symptoms are managed through a highly personalized approach to care, involving the development and evaluation of innovative approaches to remote monitoring of Parkinson’s status.
Past Research Projects
Creating an electronic medical records (EMR)-based standardized clinical assessment database with a Parkinson’s assessment tool to ensure consistency in evaluation and support.
Developing innovative, portable ways to monitor people’s sleep at home, rather than in the artificial environment of a sleep laboratory.
Deepening the research into the brainwave pattern of Parkinson’s and whether patients can use biofeedback to modify their thoughts to improve the status of their disease.
Exploring the production of a portable stimulator that would enable clinicians and scientists to monitor patients beyond the lab, opening new doors for research and future improvements to clinical care.
Using PET and fMRI neuroimaging to compare aspects of brain activity in Parkinson’s patients before and after physical activity.