Ken Mulvany Appointed Chairman of The Cure Parkinson's Trust

LONDON, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Cure Parkinson's Trust, a charity founded by four people with Parkinson's disease, which is dedicated to finding, facilitating and funding work towards a cure, today welcomes Kenneth Mulvany to the charity as Chairman. 

Ken Mulvany is an entrepreneur and healthcare industry veteran and brings more than 15 years of business leadership and experience to The Cure Parkinson's Trust. Ken was previously CEO of Proximagen, a UK-based biotech company committed to delivering novel drugs and innovative new treatments for Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. Proximagen was acquired in August 2012 by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. in the US where this pipeline of CNS programmes continues to be advanced.  

Sir Richard Nichols, former Lord Mayor of London, and co-founder of the charity, has stepped down as Chairman after eight successful and supportive years during which the Charity has grown significantly and firmly cemented its vision of providing support towards finding a cure for Parkinson's. 

Tom Isaacs, Co-founder and President of The Cure Parkinson's Trust, said: "We welcome Ken Mulvany to the Charity and look forward to working with him as he puts a new perspective on problem solving and bringing fresh ideas to moving potential new therapies forward to halt, and reverse Parkinson's. Due to his entrepreneurial vision and industry background, we believe Ken is going to be a strong follow-on Chairman to Sir Richard. He will guide us in fostering new and effective relationships with industry that can help us fulfil our vision to fund innovative research and find a cure for Parkinson's.  On behalf of the charity I want to thank Sir Richard Nichols for his inspirational and dedicated chairmanship."

The newly appointed Chairman of The Cure Parkinson's Trust, Ken Mulvany, said: "I have known Tom and the team at The Cure Parkinson's Trust for many years now and thoroughly admire the work the team plus all of the fantastic supporters have been doing to fulfil the charity's vision. Their success has enabled the charity to fund innovative research and inspirational scientists whose work is starting to make a difference as trials into new treatments get underway. I very much hope I can bring connections to the pharmaceutical industry and additional support that will help to advance potential cures for Parkinson's."

Sir Richard Nichols, former Chairman of The Cure Parkinson's Trust, added: "Since we founded The Cure Parkinson's Trust in 2005, we have seen so much change in the field of Parkinson's research. It is very encouraging to know that we are on the cusp of major breakthroughs in Parkinson's, and new areas are being investigated fruitfully. It has been a privilege to lead this dynamic organisation since its inception, and I am delighted that Ken has the vision and determination to enable the Trust to reach its goal of finding cures for Parkinson's."

Notes for Editors:

About The Cure Parkinson's Trust

The Cure Parkinson's Trust is patient-led and involves people living with Parkinson's disease to help shape its research policy and priorities. The charity has one aim - to find a cure for Parkinson's. It funds innovative scientists with the aim of developing treatments to halt or reverse the condition. http://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk

Initiatives orchestrated by The Cure Parkinson's Trust to overcome the barriers to a cure include:

Linked Clinical Trials initiative

The Cure Parkinson's Trust relies on skilled scientists and the commitment of the pharmaceutical industry to ensure it fulfils its vision. Its Linked Clinical Trials initiative is designed to help mitigate risk for Industry, whilst opening up new avenues of investigation. This is an area where the new chairman has phenomenal expertise and experience. 

Sense-Park initiative

Working with a European consortium, CPT is developing new ways to measure Parkinson's, which in turn will have a significant impact on personalising Parkinson's treatment, as well as the measures and endpoints used in clinical trials. In the EU-funded Sense-Park project, technology allows us to provide continuous, objective and accurate measurement for the first time, using symptoms that have been determined as the most relevant by those living with the condition http://www.sense-park.eu

Parkinson's Movement

Created by people with Parkinson's for people with Parkinson's, Parkinson's Movement engages those living with the condition in better management and measurement of symptoms and in advancing treatments. http://www.parkinsonsmovement.com

M:Communications advises The Cure Parkinson's Trust on its communications. The Cure Parkinson's Trust is dedicated to finding, facilitating and funding work towards a cure for Parkinson's disease. 

For all media enquiries and for more information, please contact:
Helen Matthews on +44(0)207-929-7656 / +44(0)7789842372, helen@cureparkinsons.org.uk

Mary-Jane Elliott or Claire Dickinson M:Communications on +44(0)207-9202333