people
“I was in the United States
recently doing an automation
industry presentation and I was
waiting for a drug to kick in to stop
Queensland
scientists
working on
Parkinson's
research (left)
and (below)
Michael J
Fox and wife
Tracy Pollan
with Clyde
and Carolyn
Campbell.
myself shaking. If you get up to the
lectern and you’re shaking, people
think you’re nervous. You try to
settle the shaking down, but when
you’re trying to drive a mouse and
you can’t click a button on a screen,
it makes your presentation a bit
of a challenge.”
Clyde believes the biggest
challenge for a lot of people with
Parkinson’s is that their diagnosis is
“The answer to Parkinson’s won’t
“the beginning of the end”.
just happen. It will be through investing
“They stop going out, they stop
in research that we’ll find better seeing people, because they don’t
treatments and ultimately a cure. feel comfortable with movement,
“Our partnership with MJFF
with tremor, with people looking at
allows us to double our money into
them,” he said.
Australian research. We’ve put in $3
“Once they stop going out, or
million and MJFF has matched that
dollar-for-dollar – so together the two
interaction stops, their normal drive
foundations have put $6.2 million into use an existing medication that’s falls away and that’s a sad thing.
Parkinson’s research in Australia in available in the public domain and The more we can get out and be role
the past six years.” repurpose it for Parkinson’s as an models to others, I think it makes
opportunity to slow and stop the a difference.”
The most publicised research
jointly funded by MJFF and Shake
It Up is the Parkinson’s Progression
disease,” he said.
Clyde said he hopes a cure for
Clyde maintains a personal
relationship with Michael J Fox and
Markers Initiative (PPMI), a landmark Parkinson’s comes “a heck of a the MJFF, visiting the Foundation
study launched to find biomarkers lot earlier than the next 20 years”, in New York City at least once every
or disease indicators that are critical and there’s several research areas, year. He was recently there for the
missing links in the search for better including stem cell research, which MJFF annual gala event, A funny
Parkinson’s disease treatments. are showing great promise. thing happened on the way to cure
PPMI is taking place at 32 centres
“We want to find ways to slow the
worldwide, including Macquarie disease, stop the disease, and then
University in Sydney. cure it,” he said.
Clyde said another exciting
Clyde said his personal
Parkinson’s, which raised $6.2 million.
All money raised by both MJFF
and Shake It Up goes directly into
funding research. Shake It Up
project is being carried out in experience has been a slower Foundation donations all go towards
Queensland, where researchers at the progression of the disease but it Australian-based research, with Clyde
University of Queensland are working has still been confronting. and his brother personally covering
to repurpose a blood pressure
medication for use in Parkinson’s.
28
stop being in the workplace, their
“The idea there is to be able to
people
“For me, there are some
embarrassing things,” he said.
the overheads for the Foundation.
www.shakeitup.org.au
linkonline.com.au