Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Invites John Baumann to Conference

For Immediate Release
Contact: Melissa Barry
Phone: (212) 923-4700
Email: mbarry@pdf.org

Louisville, Kentucky Resident Attends Parkinson’s Research Advocacy Program

New York, NY, October 21, 2010 — Local resident John Baumann is participating in the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF) Clinical Research Learning Institute (CRLI) this week in New Jersey.  He joins 40 other people living with Parkinson’s disease to learn about ways to contribute to new treatments and help find a cure for the disease.

Mr. Baumann was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was 41.  A practicing attorney for 23 years, he was inspired to change his life after his diagnosis.  He began teaching undergraduates at the University of Louisville, which he found to be more personally rewarding. He also founded LearnSuccessToday.com, an inspirational speaking and consulting business.  Because of his experience with Parkinson’s, he often focuses his inspirational talks on the role of the family in adjusting to illness and on the power of a positive attitude.

Mr. Baumann hopes that his talks serve to raise awareness for Parkinson’s and inspire others to take action.  He says that his training in clinical research advocacy will be the next step in this work.  At the Learning Institute, he will attend three days of courses, led by national experts, who will cover topics such as ‘the basics of clinical research’ and discuss the new therapies that are being studied by scientists to treat Parkinson’s.

When asked what he hopes to accomplish by attending the Learning Institute, Mr. Baumann emphasized his goal of bringing any lessons learned back home to Louisville.  “I want to be trained to become an advocate because there is awareness needed about Parkinson’s clinical trials, not only on the national level, but also in my community.  I hope to work with people with Parkinson’s in Louisville to ensure that we all have access to the latest research information and to spread the word about the importance of volunteering for trials, so that we can find new treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s as quickly as possible.”

Executive Director Robin Elliott said, “The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation believes that inclusion of the perspective and experiences of people with Parkinson’s has the potential to benefit the clinical research process and therapies development. We are committed to providing the tools and resources necessary to make this happen – in the hope that the Clinical Research Learning Institute provides the foundation for these motivated consumers to become engaged and involved in a process that directly impacts their current quality of life and strives to find a cure for this debilitating disease.”

For more information about Mr. Baumann’s work or the Clinical Research Learning Institute please contact PDF at (800) 457-6676 or info@pdf.org or visit www.pdf.org/crli.

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 (PD) by funding promising scientific research to find the causes of and a cure for Parkinson’s while supporting people with Parkinson’s, their families and caregivers through educational programs and support services. Since its founding in 1957, PDF has funded over $85 million worth of scientific research in Parkinson’s disease, supporting the work of leading scientists throughout the world and has dedicated over $34 million to support people with Parkinson’s and their families and caregivers through its educational and advocacy programs.

At the heart of PDF’s work is the participation of people with Parkinson’s.  Whether it is through its People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council, which advises PDF on all aspects of its work, or the Clinical Research Learning Institute, which trains people with PD to play a part in clinical research – the perspective of people living with Parkinson’s ensures that PDF’s work is on target and meets the needs of the community.

About the Clinical Research Learning Institute

The PDF Clinical Research Learning Institute is a novel three-day program that prepares people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to be part of the clinical research process – the stage of treatment development that brings new, and much-needed, therapies for Parkinson’s from “bench to bedside.”   The Learning Institute was launched in 2008, based on the premise that all too often, the perspectives and experiences of people with Parkinson’s are excluded from the decision-making that advances new therapies.  Graduates from the Learning Institute are prepared to return to their home communities to engage in a range of activities that include educating the community about the importance of clinical research and study participation and serving on clinical study oversight and advisory committees.