We are going to try a private forum to continue this project, which continues to take shape. Those who have indicated interest will automatically be enrolled; but this group is open to everyone who wants to participate. You can't lurk tho, to read it you must join. So PM Rick or me if you'd like to join.

There can be problems getting a large group to voice chat over the computer. Conference calls aren't really free, even when they suggest it in their name. So we are going to keep a running conversation going in the private forum. IF you do participate , may I ask that you check the forum daily to keep things moving. There will be polls for consensus, etc. that need to move along.

We need volunteers to do research, work on a calendar, write and create a registration that will become an email list, write polls and surveys, form a few working groups and hundreds of medical contacts.

The goal is to create a think tank that promotes cross discipline communication and data sharing. We hope to come up with new research ideas or new data from fields outside of or in addition to neurology.

Getting researchers and doctors to participate will not be easy. We need profoundly innovative suggestions to get them to do so. So far suggestions have included interviewing them and putting the interview on line, which would explain the person's area of work as a possible PD causal/connected factor. This is how contributors could initially contribute, in the hopes that discussion will continue. A suggestion was to have liasons who are medical assistants or grad students. The interview could be conducted by phone, email , through a survey.

- anyone who attends a research hospital , in clinical trials, your own doctors, etc. should ask them if they know of anyone who is interested in pD causal factors other than neurological. Ask them to recommend any researcher or doctor or grad students, etc. who may be interested in contributing.

Of course, the ultimate objective is to make it self-perpetuating.

I'll wait a week and see who comes into the forum. Then Rick will have some items for research by those who are interested. Until then, the posts can be about anything - no such thing as a stupid idea.

Don't sit on your ideas.

thanks all,
paula