PITT AWARDED GRANT TO FUND PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH

PITTSBURGH, May 15 -- The Center of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease at the University of Pittsburgh has been awarded a grant from the Scaife Family Foundation to provide seed money for innovative research proposals and funds to purchase cutting edge equipment to aid in the research of Parkinson's disease.

The $400,000 grant provides funding for 1998 and 1999. The first year of funding has been received by the university and will be used to purchase new equipment and to initiate pilot projects in an effort to promote research related to Parkinson's disease at Pitt.

"As a result of this support, a number of new projects will be initiated at the University of Pittsburgh over the next several months," said Michael Zigmond, of Pitt's Department of Neurology. "Most of them will be directed by individuals who have not previously applied their skills for the study of Parkinson's disease. We are confident that important new insights will come from this work and deeply appreciate the support provided by the Scaife Family Foundation."

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, debilitating disease affecting more than a million people in the United States. It primarily affects older individuals and can be detected in about one percent of the population over the age of 60. However, in rare cases people in their teens have been struck by the disorder.

There will be two special events sponsored by the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Parkinson's Foundation on May 17 and 18. Muhammad Ali will be the featured guest at a charity luncheon Monday, May 18 at 11:45 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott City Center, Pittsburgh. Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's, serves as the official spokesman for, and a member of, the National Parkinson Foundation Board of Governors. "Lunch With The Champ" is designed to heighten public awareness of Parkinson's issues and promote programs that improve the lives of Parkinson's patients. The event will also raise funds in order to help researchers find a cure.

There will be a Parkinson's symposium Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. in the Monongahela Room at the Westin William Penn Hotel, Downtown. Topics will include the latest in Parkinson's research news, a discussion of the benefits of anti-oxidants, and an advocacy panel discussion. The event is free and open to the public

The Center for Excellence in Parkinson's Disease at Pitt is comprised of researchers from the departments of neurobiology, neuroscience, biological sciences, psychiatry, and pharmacology. Current research includes the physiology and biochemistry of the brain under normal conditions and in response to injury, the effect of viruses on the cell biology of the brain, inquiries into naturally occurring toxins that might be responsible for Parkinson's disease, and the development of more effective pharmacological and surgical treatments to reduce the symptoms and halt the progression of Parkinson's disease.

-30-