Just in case you are interested...you can still RSVP and participate Saturday morning. The details are below.
Debi


MJFF’s Research Roundtables, held around the country throughout the year, are for patients and caregivers. We want to share information about top Parkinson’s research priorities and provide a forum for you to ask your own question of the experts on the front lines of the search for a cure.

On November 21 at 11 a.m., our final 2009 Virtual Research Roundtable will be Webcast live. Hear from Foundation leadership and submit questions to be answered by our expert panel in real time — all from the comfort of your own personal computer. If you can’t join us live, register to watch the event video after the fact.

Already tuned in for a previous Virtual Roundtable in February or June? This event will feature different speakers and cover different topics — so be sure to register at the MJFF Web site today! http://video.webcasts.com/events/pmn...?eventid=32758


Virtual Research Roundtable
11 a.m.–1 p.m., Saturday, November 21, live from New York City

Speakers:
MJFF CEO Katie Hood
Vice President of Research Programs Todd Sherer, PhD
And members of the Foundation’s Executive Scientific Advisory Board

Virtual Roundtables are made possible by a generous lead gift from Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I was on my way to post about this. If Andy Grove and MJ Fox can't solve this thing called Parkinson's disease, we are doomed!

I'm signing up for the webcast TODAY!

Debi, will there be a written transcript or synopsis? Thx for sharing!
Peggy

Is Andy Grove still active with us or did he get fed up with the fossilized and negative reaction that some researchers threw at him when he made his famous speech about PD? I especially remember the scientist who wrote an article saying "Andy Grove is rich, famous and wrong." Everybody should have a copy of that if they need to be angry to get out of bed in the morning. It jolts you awake to see the extent to which there are some researchers who are in the wrong line of work, and how we need to find ways to support the researchers who actually care about more than their careers.
There were comments attached to the article. One said that Andy Grove knows nothing about running a business !!!

Andy remains highly engaged with the PD science principally through MJFF. He is a Special Advisor to MJFF Board of Directors and a member of our Founders Council. Additionally he remains one of our most active research committee members and is one of our most generous donors.

Debi

That's great news. He is one of the greatest R&D creators of the past hundred years, AND one of the greatest businessmen. He is ten kinds of hero.

Well, hubby has been a handfulll to help take care of (mostly fetching things for him), then this extra running around caused my sciatica to act up . . . excuses, excuses. Bottom line is I missed the conference. I hope something remarkable happened. And I'm sure the webcast will be up soon.

I'm not sure how this health reform is going to be on those of us needing chronic care, much less what it will do to research! Without getting into politics (is that possible?), any takes on this?
Peg

For those of you who missed the chance to participate in the webex session on Saturday, you can view the session now from our website. This link below will take you to the sign-up page (if you registered before, you should be set...if you didn't, you can register now and then you'll be offered the option to view the webcast.) There was at least an hour of Q&A from the live audience and webex participants. While we never get to all the questions, many were fielded and researchers and clinicians were able to provide in-depth responses. Let me know if you have any questions or follow-up thoughts about the presentations...or even suggestions for future topics.

Best Debi

http://video.webcasts.com/events/webx001/32758/

If you want a good opinion: ask your doc. Boy, did ours have lots to say, and none of it was good. BTW: we see several neuros, and they all had the same thoughts about this.

FYI, I read recently that the average profit for health insurance companies was 2.2 percent. I was shocked, sure it was much more. That's a pretty slim profit margin by any standard....and I wonder how many providers will simply cut coverage (yea, they'll sell you insurance, but the benefits are squat) or worse, pull out of health insurance altogether if that shrimpy profit goes down further. I have already had one health insurance simply not renew a former policy we had because they got out of the health insurance business...this has happened in Florida recently with another type of insurance, I think it was Farmer's. Fewer choices will force more folk onto the gov't plan which will be....not what our Congressmen or President have.