[jeanb]

The Cure Parkinson's Trust and the WobblyWilliams are trying to raise funding to cover the cost of Prof. Steven Gill's new infusion device. It will be used to treat many diseases, with Parkinson's disease included. Prof. Gill never gave up on GDNF and has worked for years to perfect this delivery system.

This video talks about it:

http://www.wobblywilliams.com/gdnf.html

I've donated toward this and will continue to do so. Many of us believe that this is the CURE or as close as we'll ever get. I urge all PWP to focus their fundraising efforts for FUNDING NEURO.

thanks, Jean

[lurkingforacure]

Jean, thanks for posting this, it's great news....BUT my question is, so we get a delivery system that shows it works and then it gets approved and everyone can get it...you still need GDNF which Gill does not have the license for. The license for GDNF is, according to what I've read, held by Medgensis (Andy Grove's group) and they may or may not want to share as they are developing their own delivery system.

It's like developing a car that will run but you still have to have the gas to put in it. What are the plans to get past that issue?

[jeanb]

Originally Posted by lurkingforacure

Jean, thanks for posting this, it's great news....BUT my question is, so we get a delivery system that shows it works and then it gets approved and everyone can get it...you still need GDNF which Gill does not have the license for. The license for GDNF is, according to what I've read, held by Medgensis (Andy Grove's group) and they may or may not want to share as they are developing their own delivery system.

It's like developing a car that will run but you still have to have the gas to put in it. What are the plans to get past that issue?

Lurking,

It is my understanding that Prof Gill DOES have permission to use GDNF in human clinical trials LATER THIS YEAR as soon as his delivery method is tested. That's why this is so urgent.

I'm going to set up a YOUTUBE site where pwp can post videos about why they support GDNF. (stay tuned for that info) I'm hoping we can convey this urgency so this research is funded quickly.

Jean

[lindylanka]

I'll second what Jean says on this, it is my understanding of this initiative too.
It is something to support with the greatest urgency. Thanks Jean for posting Bryn's video here.

Lindy

[jeanb]

I've setup a youtube account where we can post videos of support:

channel name is: gdnf4cure

If you make video- please pm me and we'll figure out how to get it loaded in gdnf4cure youtube channel

thanks!!

jean

ps thank you Lindy!!

[cochrankat]

Thanks, Jean.

I too made a contribution in support of the GDNF trial in Bristol, UK, under the direction of Dr. Steven Gill.With her permission, I'm forwarding this email from Helen Matthews of the Cure Parkinson's Trust thanking me (For more info on this trial, go to www.cureparkinsons.org.uk.)

It's great that GDNF is back in play and that both the treatment and Dr. Gill's delivery system are being evaluated. CPT seems like a fantastic organization that truly empowers patients.

I urge everyone to contribute and to sound the call.

Onward and upward!

Kathleen

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Helen Matthews <helen@cureparkinsons.org.uk>
Date: 6 May 2011 09:56
Subject: Thank you so much

Dear Kathleen

Very many thanks indeed for the generous donation you so kindly made online via Justgiving.com in support of the GDNF trial in Bristol. It is a project we care passionately about, and we are determined to do all we can to support its development.

The Cure Parkinson’s Trust has now been in existence for five years, during which time we have directed more £2.5 million into research projects worldwide. Excitingly we have started to see some promising results from our funding so far. We recently designed and funded a pilot study which started in 2010 into the use of an existing Diabetes treatment as a potential new therapy for Parkinson’s; Cogane, another potential new treatment that we have been championing is also going into phase II trial this year, and of course, GDNF too. We remain very enthusiastic about these and a number of other potential therapies that we are supporting and contrary to popular belief, feel confident that these can be developed into tangible treatments for people with Parkinson’s n the very near future. We consider it our job to make the phrase “near future” as short a time as possible!

With best wishes and again very many thanks.

Helen Matthews

Coordinator, The Cure Parkinson's Trust

1 St Clement's Court

London EC4N 7HB

0207 929 7656

0778 9842372

www.cureparkinsons.org.uk

Registered charity number 1111816

[jeanb]

I feel that this is as close to a cure as I'll see in my lifetime. I hope others will contribute and urge their friends and family to do so. The faster they get funding = the more quickly the clinical trials will take place - and the more quickly we will get GDNF!!

Jean

[jeanb]

Information about Professor Gill's planned GDNF trial (from the Cure Parkinsons Trust website):

"Starting in 2011, with CPT support, Professor Gill plans to conduct a two year double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study of intermittent intraputamenal GDNF infusions for the treatment of Parkinson's in 36 patients. CPT's Research Committee has asked that brain imaging be included in the study to provide further evidence of the efficacy of GDNF in the brain"

[Debi Brooks]

If you are a supporter of MJFF, you are supporting this work.

MJFF has been funding Steve Gill/Medgenesis since early last year to work on GDNF. Additionally, we are funding the Ceregene Phase 2 as well as a project by Mart Saarma in Finland. All these grants were awarded as part of a $5 million trophic factor program launched by MJFF in spring 2010. Trophic factors and delivery strategies continue to be a high priority area for MJFF funds/efforts.

Best, Debi