Extended cooperation between MultiPark and the patient organization Parkinson Skåne

By martina [dot] svensson [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Martina Svensson) - published 27 November 2023

Mingling at the vernissage. Photo. — The collaboration between MultiPark and Parkinson Skåne has been ongoing for many years and includes different interactive activities. In August 2023, MultiPark arranged a vernissage with brain pictures captured through the microscope.

Every year, the patient organization Parkinson Skåne organizes a half-day of themed lectures on Parkinson's disease. The strategic research area, MultiPark, usually sponsors the moderator costs and contributes with research talks. In addition, the researchers arrange four times a year the well-attended popular science seminar evenings MultiPark café for members of the patient organization. This collaboration is now being expanded.

The collaboration between MultiPark and Parkinson Skåne has been going on for many years, already when the strategic research area was founded at Lund University in 2010 there was collaboration between the patient association and the university.

The patient organization's event during World Parkinson's Day attracts 250 visitors annually and means a lot to those affected and their relatives. Moreover, 2,000 other people watch it digitally as the lectures are recorded. In addition to supporting this, MultiPark has invited the organization's members to visiting days in the laboratories at the medical faculty in Lund where the research takes place. In addition, many researchers have shared their knowledge during Parkinson Skåne's annual retreat.

The collaboration with Parkinson Skåne is of great importance to get inspiration and motivation for our research

“Many of us are doing research on Parkinson's disease and collaboration with Parkinson Skåne is of great importance to get inspiration and motivation for our research," explains Angela Cenci Nilsson, MultiPark’s coordinator.

Another joint activity is the seminar evenings. Both the Parkinson café that existed before the pandemic and the MultiPark café that was started afterwards have been popular events. For the theme about sleep, MultiPark's communicator was contacted by people who even offered to bring their own chairs if they could reserve additional seats, even though the event was already full weeks in advance.

It means a lot to our members to get information about current research and to get hope for the future," says Parkinson Skåne's chair Monica Vikingsson.

The Cooperation is now being expanded as MultiPark provides additional funds to support joint activities.

“Parkinson Skåne is grateful and proud of the extended cooperation we have with MultiPark. It means a lot to our members to get information about current research and to get hope for the future," says Parkinson Skåne's chair Monica Vikingsson.