Tewksbury Resident Traveling to World Parkinson Congress in Montreal to Advocate for Patient Involvement in Research

Tewksbury, MA, resident and Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF) Research Advocate Sue Dubman, M.A., is traveling to Montreal, Canada next week to speak to the international Parkinson’s community about the role of patients in research. She joins 3,500 world-renowned scientists, doctors, people with Parkinson’s, care partners and allied health professionals from 44 countries attending the 3rd World Parkinson Congress (WPC).

Ms. Dubman has worked in the health care and life sciences field for more than 20 years.  She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009. As part of PDF’s network of Research Advocates, she partners with scientists working at the frontlines to find new treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

Based on her professional background and volunteer experience as a PDF Research Advocate, she was chosen to attend the 3rd World Parkinson Congress and present a poster session entitled, “Enabling Research Through Informatics: A Researcher Turned Patient's Point of View.” 

“People living with Parkinson’s can’t wait 15 to 20 years or more for new drugs to come out of the pipeline,” said Ms. Dubman. “Time is our most precious commodity. During my poster session at the World Parkinson Congress, I hope to educate others on ways we can improve trials.”

PDF President Robin Anthony Elliott said, “At PDF, our philosophy is to empower stakeholders, the people who live with Parkinson’s, to play a role in advancing research. Ms. Dubman’s leadership at the 3rd World Parkinson Congress and in her community is a driving force in our mission to find better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s as soon as possible.”

To learn more about Ms. Dubman’s efforts with the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, contact PDF at (800) 457-6676, info@pdf.org or www.pdf.org. 

For more information on PDF’s work at the World Parkinson Congress and how people touched by Parkinson’s can share their research priorities, visit www.pdf.org/world_parkinson_congress.

About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the US.  Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s.

About the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy.  We are working for the nearly one million people in the US who live with Parkinson's disease by funding promising scientific research while supporting people living with Parkinson's disease through educational programs and services.  Since its founding in 1957, PDF has dedicated $100 million to fund the work of leading scientists throughout the world and $42 million to support education and advocacy programs.