This whole area of genetic research in Parkinson's is one that, again, we didn't know about 15 years ago. This is where the major strides are being made in terms of developing better models. We need better models in Parkinson's; we can't test everything in people, and using some of these genetic things that we had no idea existed 15 years ago and putting these abnormal genes into mice and in flies and in fish and figuring out what happens to them--this is where we've been making these more recent discoveries. This is where we really have been getting to the point now where we're turning these discoveries into treatments that we're trying in people.
We talked about diagnosis and the struggle for people when they have to see me, whom they've never seen before, and have to rely on me telling them they have Parkinson's, believing what I have to say versus having a test.
Some of the basic research in this whole discussion of biomarkers is one that we desperately need in Parkinson's, but we're definitely making progress. The first gene I mentioned, alpha-synuclein, my colleague has the potential to measure in your blood and spinal fluid. Part of his work is funded by Parkinson Society Canada, and he's looking at can we have a measurement and can we accurately predict who might have Parkinson's and can we use some of these biomarkers and follow progression that we desperately need.
So yes, there are definitely success stories. I'll just maybe tie back to an earlier question. Yes, the Parkinson Society has been key for funding pilot studies. The funding base that Parkinson Society Canada has is relatively small for the amount of work that needs to be done. Researchers apply to Parkinson Society Canada to fund their ideas. The success rate is considered not too bad; you have a 50% success rate. The trouble is going to the next step. I think this is where the CIHR has run into big trouble; there are so many scientists out there who say, “No, I'm not staying up until 3 o'clock in the morning and writing a proposal to the CIHR when I have a 16% chance of having it funded.”
So we have a bunch of great ideas, and we have some pilot money that we can get, but how do we carry those ideas forward? If your success rate is so low, there are a lot of frustrated scientists out there saying, “I'm just not doing this any more. This is crazy.”
That's a big problem.