Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I can tell you from a personal perspective that just since July 1, I have applied for $2.5 million in research that covers different arenas, just in my laboratory of eight people. That was internationally, not just within Canada. I hope I will get 50% of this, or if not, even 25%; then I'll reapply next year.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Yes.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Mr. Brown, perhaps I may add something to Joyce's comments. One of the really exciting things that's going on right now that Parkinson Society Canada is starting to fund as well is that within pharmaceutical industries, we know that a Tylenol not only treats headache but can also bring down fever.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  If I understood your question correctly, you're asking what lessons we can learn from other countries. To me, when I think about this big problem of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and immobility in western societies, one of the most wonderful things from an international perspective that I experienced here, being newly arrived in Canada, was the amazing amount of talent, creativity, and willingness to work hard to change the plight of people with illnesses.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I liked one example in particular in Germany, and not just because I grew up next door. But with Parkinson's disease, if you live in Canada or the United States, you will never be admitted to a hospital unless you have severe pneumonia or you have a hip fracture and need acute care.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I can give you one very specific example of how research in Alzheimer's disease has completely changed the game for research in Parkinson's. The genetic revolution in Alzheimer's began 10 years before it began in Parkinson's, so they had a leg-up. And the disease is four times as common as is Parkinson's.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  There was, for instance, an effort that was initiated through a Parkinson's alliance two years ago, where several researchers, two in Ottawa and then team members elsewhere, tried to put forward an application for a national centre of excellence. This would have actually been a major milestone event to make teams collaborate and share data as soon as it becomes available and not wait for the year two until it's publicized or published in the literature.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I just wanted to say that this doesn't even stop there, because people with Parkinson's also may have bladder function problems or orthopedic problems or dystonia that may need a tendon release. I can't get a urology appointment for my patients. I get physiotherapy appointments rejected because they're only good for a week and the disease is not going to be cured or the condition is not going to be cured in a week.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Thank you very much for your question. May I answer in English? It's easier for me. Thank you very much. I think this is a really important issue. There are two aspects that come to my mind. I had the opportunity in the past to write, with a colleague of mine, guidelines for neurologists about genetic testing and Parkinson's disease.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I'd like to make one comment in terms of putting it in the context of what it takes to bring a new drug to the market. In other words, let's say we were to have a breakthrough finding today that we utilized to team up with the biotech industry or with large pharmaceutical companies to take a very specific target identified within the brain.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Yes, I will conclude.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I apologize for going over time. I want to conclude by saying there is enormous excitement and patriotism in this country that I've experienced since I've come, and I think this could be a fantastic effort to rally the nation, rally the troops, and take this on as a fight to--

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Yes.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I will do that.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Thanks.