New £10m Parkinson’s Research Centre celebrates official opening

On 14 May 2026, we welcomed attendees from across the Parkinson’s research community and beyond to celebrate the official launch of the UK DRI Parkinson’s Research Centre, funded in partnership with Parkinson’s UK.

The new centre connects research teams at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Oxford and UCL, with the entire UK DRI network, to tackle one of modern medicine's major biomedical challenges - why, despite intense research over decades, there is still no treatment that can slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s.

Over 120 attendees including researchers, people with Parkinson’s, clinicians and industry representatives joined the event in London. It served as an opportunity for the new Centre Director and Group Leaders to introduce themselves and their scientific programmes to the community. Attendees also heard directly from people with lived experience of Parkinson’s, who generously shared their experiences.

Throughout the event, a key theme that emerged was an emphasis on co-development of research with people with lived experience of Parkinson’s. The new centre will have a ‘People’s Council’, which will have input into the direction of research. 

Below, Centre Director Prof Miratul Muqit shares his vision for the centre:

Reflecting on the event, Prof Miratul Muqit said: 

“This is a defining moment for Parkinson’s research in the UK – as cases rise, we urgently need new treatments that will slow or stop the condition progressing. It was great to welcome so many people to the launch of our Centre, which brings together some of the best Parkinson’s researchers from across the UK, with vital support from Parkinson’s UK. 

The event served as an important reminder of our vision, which is all about people with Parkinson’s. We look forward to appoint our People’s Council to help steer the Centre’s research. And importantly, breakthroughs will only be reached through coming together: we are open and eager to collaborate and partner to achieve our goals.”