Neuro Challenge Foundation Brings National Forum to Sarasota February 17th

On February 17, the Sarasota community will have the opportunity to participate in a national forum about education and advocacy for Parkinson Disease. Presented by The Neuro Challenge Foundation, the 16th annual Parkinson’s Action Network Research and Public Policy Forum will be aired live via interactive webcast at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Institute for Advanced Medicine (5880 Rand Boulevard). Forum participants will learn about current legislative issues impacting the Parkinson’s community, and how they can advocate for better treatments and a cure by communicating with elected officials to influence change, here in Sarasota and in Washington, DC.

The keynote speaker for the PAN forum will be Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Collins will share his thoughts on the $156 million in Parkinson Disease research conducted in 2009 by NIH, the largest biomedical research institution in the world. His address will be given from 1:00 to 1:45 pm and will precede a live follow-up discussion with Neuro Challenge Foundation medical advisor Dr. Dean Sutherland.

This is the first year that the PAN Research and Public Policy virtual forum has been brought to a local community, easing the burden of travel for many Parkinson patients and their families. The forum will be presented free of charge from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Participants may RSVP by contacting the Institute for Advanced Medicine at (941) 917-7777.

About Neuro Challenge Foundation: The Neuro Challenge Foundation (NCF) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of people with Parkinson Disease and their caregivers through service, education and research. NCF funds programs and activities that promise to ease the burden of Parkinson Disease through patient-centered professional education, community forums and scientific and clinical research. Patients, caregivers and nationally recognized scientific experts advise us and lead the way as we invest in the science and services that will lead to a cure. For more information, please call (888) 623-4483 or visit www.neurochallenge.org.

About Parkinson’s Action Network: The Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) is the leading advocacy voice of the Parkinson’s community, advocating for more than 1 million Americans and their families. Through education and interaction with the Parkinson’s community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders, and the public, PAN leads the fight to ease the burden and find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. PAN increases awareness about Parkinson’s disease and seeks federal support for Parkinson’s research. For more information, call (800) 850-4726 or visit www.parkinsonsaction.org.