Mayo Clinic neurologist receives Parkinson Society Canada award

Monday, November 21, 2005

Parkinson Society Canada named Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Zbigniew Wszolek the 2005 recipient of its Donald Calne Lectureship. This is the second time in as many months that Wszolek has been recognized by the international Parkinson's disease research community for his work in the genetics of the disease.

According to Joyce Gordon, president and CEO of Parkinson Society Canada, "The lectureship recognizes a distinguished neurologist or neuroscientist of international reputation whose work is primarily in the area of Parkinson's disease." On Nov. 4, Wszolek gave a state-of-the-illness lecture to the Parkinson's community in Winnipeg, Manitoba, during the Parkinson Society Canada's annual meeting.

"It's wonderful that the genetics of the field has expanded and that we have a better understanding of the genetic factors involved in causing Parkinson's disease," Wszolek says. "I'm sure this will lead to a better understanding of the nature of Parkinson's disease and eventually will lead to curative treatments."

Wszolek's research focuses on uncovering the genetic causes of Parkinson's in numerous families he and others have identified. He and his Mayo colleagues Matthew Farrer, Ph.D., and Drs. Dennis Dickson and Ryan Uitti are currently studying one large family with many individuals affected with Parkinson's disease as well as two other movement disorders. "If we discover the gene for this family," Wszolek says, "we may also have answers for essential tremor and for restless leg syndrome, one of the most common neurological disorders in the country."

After lecturing on genetics at the Eleventh Annual Parkinson's Disease Symposium in Memphis last month, Wszolek and his Mayo Clinic research team traveled to Arkansas to meet and examine 21 more members of that family. Expanding the study of this and other families with Parkinson's disease enables Wszolek and his team to collect more individual DNA samples needed to discover the elusive gene or gene mutation responsible for causing their disease.

The Donald Calne Lectureship was established in 2002 to honor Dr. Donald Calne for his outstanding service to the Parkinson's community as professor of neuroscience at the University of British Columbia and past chair and long time member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Parkinson Society Canada.

Parkinson Society Canada is a not-for-profit organization that serves as the national voice for Canadians living with Parkinson's disease. The society is in its 40th year of helping improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson's disease through research, education, advocacy and support services.

###

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.