Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that affects movement and impacts more than 10 million people around the world. Many organizations and institutions worldwide have made valuable contributions to the effort to understand this disease and treat it. One organization helping to lead these efforts is the Udall Centers for Excellence for Parkinson’s.

How the Udall Centers for Excellence for Parkinson’s Began

The Udall Centers for Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research was launched by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an organization that focuses on brain and nervous system research to better treat and understand neurological disease. Researching Parkinson’s disease is part of this mission, and the NINDS Parkinson’s Disease Research Centers of Excellence program was launched soon after President Bill Clinton signed the Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Act of 1997 into law.

The research program’s mission is to learn information about the brain and nervous system and use that knowledge to develop new clinical treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

The centers were developed in honor of former Congressman Morris K. Udall. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1979 and stayed active in Congress until his retirement in 1991. Mr. Udall died in 1998 after battling the condition for almost 20 years.

Where are the Udall Centers Located?

The Udall Centers for Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research have several locations across the country, including:

• The Brigham Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA)
• Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
• John Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD)
• Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, AL)
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
• University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)

What Do the Udall Centers Research?

The Udall Centers for Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research conduct important research for Parkinson’s disease, such as identifying and characterizing candidate and disease-associated genes as well as developing and testing potential treatments. They strive to research treatments and therapies for Parkinson’s in a multidisciplinary setting to increase the effectiveness of their efforts.

Connecticut Advocates for Parkinson’s in New Haven, CT, offers positive support for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their families and friends. The non-profit organization provides outreach initiatives, patient group collaboration, wellness and educational opportunities and clinic trial transportation. They look forward to helping people with Parkinson’s disease fight back in a meaningful and successful way. If you would like to learn about their upcoming events, call (860) 266-6040 or visit their website.