Each year, Tyler’s Hope for Dystonia holds a golf tournament to raise funds for Dystonia research. Located at the lovely and classical Gainesville Country Club, this 2-day tournament is a social event that offers satifaction to the athlete and philanthropist in all of us. For more information, please call 352-494-4417 or visit www.tylershope.org 2010 TH Golf Tournament 8.19.10
The University of Florida Movement Disorders Center
(UFMDC) was established at the Evelyn F. and William
L. McKnight Brain Institute in July 2002, to bring together UF
doctors and researchers with special expertise in Parkinson's
disease, tremors, dystonia and other movement disorders. The UFMDC is a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, a Tyler's Hope Center for Comprehensive Dystonia Care and a National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence.
More About the UFMDC
More About the UFMDC
UFMDC Directors: Clinical Director, Dr Rodriguez, and Center Co-Directors Drs. Fernandez, Okun and Foote
UFMDC News and Blog
DYT-1 Dystonia Research Grant – application deadline extended
The Dr. Edward Staab Grant for DYT-1 Dystonia Research was founded in 2009 to further DYT-1 research in the Dystonia field. In their commitment to find a cure, the Board of Directors of Tyler’s Hope recognized the importance of bringing new talent to the research table. They decided to hold a meeting once a year in Gainesville, Florida, the home of Tyler’s Hope and invite the brightest minds in the scientific community, Tyler’s Hope Think Tank. Scientists and physicians from around the world are invited to attend and the meeting designed as an actual Think Tank, comprised of scientific presentations followed by intense discussions from the group.
Every year the Think Tank provides a forum for new research ideas as well thoughts on improving current treatment options and proposal for future endeavors. In 2009, Tyler’s Hope offered the first Dr. Edward V. Staab Memorial Grant to the best ideas resulting from the Think Tank. Three awards were presented last year to researchers from Harvard University, the University of Tennessee and Emory University. The Think Tank is of critical importance to finding a cure for DYT1 dystonia. The grantees are monitored for progress by the Tyler’s Hope Scientific Board to ensure that each dollar is spent appropriately on DYT1 research.
Grant applications are accepted via email to tylershope@intermed1.com with a copy to rachelle.stephen@neurology.ufl.edu on or before AUGUST 21st. The standard award amount is $50k and this grant does not fund facility, administrative or incident costs.
Due to the high volume of grant applications and their stellar quality, the deadline for grant applications has been extended to August 21st, 2010. Please send your application via email: we will advise all applicants, also via email, by September 15th of award notification.
Dr Edward Staab Grant Application
For more information on the grant or the 2011 Tyler’s Hope Think Tank, please email rachelle.stephen@neurology.ufl.edu
Parkinson Disease and Hospitalizations
Drs. Oyama and Okun from the University of Florida wrote a blog post on the National Parkinson Foundation website about two recent articles which point out to physicians the problems that Parkinson patients may have when they come in for a hospitalization and during their treatment.
One was written by a student that works here at the UFMDC, Andrew Resnick, and specifically discusses emergency room encounters for patients with deep brain stimulators. The newest one, written by Dr. Swati Patel, from the University of Colorado – Denver, discusses PD patient needs when they are going to have surgery and be hospitalized. It is a pretty easy read compared to the typical academic article which is helpful when the author wants to express the information to a broader audience. Physicians are given specific advice regarding issues PD patients may have in the motor, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, genitourinary, or cognitive areas and also with medication management. You can read it directly on the “The Hospitalist” website.
Tyler’s Hope Think Tank on DYT-1 Dystonia going on now
Hosted here at the UF McKnight Brain Institute, the Tyler’s Hope Think Tank is bringing together a couple dozen of the best minds in dystonia research to present some of their research and thoughts, and to provide questions and critiques on their colleagues’ work to push the field forward.
For more information on Tyler’s Hope or DYT-1 dystonia visit their website http://tylershope.org/.
National Parkinson Foundation site gets a reboot
Congratulations to our friends at the NPF! Last month they completely redesigned their website and it seems much easier to find what you are interested in. Please go have a look and let them know what you think!
Parkinson Symposium – April 24th 8:30 AM – Full Details
Hopeful Days in PD – 8th Annual Parkinson Disease Symposium
for Patients, Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers
Sponsored by the University of Florida Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders NPF Center of Excellence
Saturday, April 24th (8:30 AM – 2:00 PM)
The event is FREE and OPEN to all PD patients and their families, caregivers, health professionals or any other interested guests. Lunch will be provided.
Registration is requested but not required and can be done through Rachelle Stephen by calling 352-273-5566 or emailing rachelle.stephen@neurology.ufl.edu
The symposium will be held at:
Abiding Savior Lutheran Church (in the Fellowship Hall, Building 3)
9700 West Newberry Road
Gainesville, FL 32606-5545
(Note: you can enter the building using either a wheelchair ramp or stairs)
We plan to stream the video of the Symposium live (be aware there may be technical difficulties). The stream will appear on the UFMDC website on Saturday. If there are any technical difficulties we will aim to get the video posted to the site as quickly as possible after the symposium.
| 8:15 AM | Registration | Lobby |
| 8:45 | Michael Okun, M.D. | Welcome remarks/introduction |
| 9:00-9:30 | Michael Okun, M.D.
Co-Director MDC, Associate Professor UF Dept of Neurology |
Updates in Care, Research and Outreach in PD. |
| 9:30-10:00
|
Dennis Steindler, PhD
Executive Director, McKnight Brain Institute University of Florida |
“Regenerative Medicine in Movement Disorders” |
| 10-11:00 | Melissa Daly, PT, DPT | Falls in PD + activity
|
| 11:00-11:15 | Inspirational speaker :
Jon Anderson |
Relentless Forward Motion |
| 11:15 AM– 12:00 PM | Ramon L. Rodriguez, MD
Director of Clinical Services Assistant Professor UF Dept of Neurology |
Medical Management of Parkinson Symptoms |
| 12:00-12:30 | LUNCH | LUNCH |
| 12:30-1:30
|
Jill Sonke-Henderson
Co-Director, Dance For Life Program UFMDC |
Dance for Life Presentation and Class Graduation |
| 1:30-2PM | Sherrilene Classen, PhD
Director IMAP, Assistant Professor UF Dept of Occupational Therapy |
Does PD affect my Driving? |
| 2:00 – 2:30 PM | Irene Malaty, MD
Asst Prof and NPF COE Director With thanks to the Robert Stockdale Lecture Fund |
Parkinson Disease: More than a Movement Disorder
|
Medicine - Our physicians see dozens of patients each week in the UF Movement Disorders Clinic.
Surgery - University of Florida neurosurgeons use deep brain stimulation and other techniques to treat patients with Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders
Education - Fellows, medical students, graduate students and pre-meds learn about movement disorders while working at the UFMDC and shadowing our physicians.
Research - Researchers from multiple disciplines work together to find new and better treatments for movement disorders while looking for causes and cures.
Why go to the University of Florida for your Parkinson's or Movement Disorders surgery?
Answer: Because the UFMDC has one of the largest interdisciplinary teams in the world dedicated to making sure your deep brain stimulation device is placed correctly.
You will see a fellowship trained movement disorders neurologist, a fellowship trained movement disorders neurosurgeon, and you will receive the best possible medical optimization. Additionally, you will have access to a complete interdisciplinary team of experts in every area (speech, voice, walking, balance, memory, depression/anxiety disorders, rehabilitation, driving, occupational therapy, etc.) who specialize in the care of Parkinson's and Movement Disorder Patients.
We will ensure you are the right candidate, and discuss with you in detail what symptoms we think you can expect to improve with a deep brain stimulation surgical therapy. Your case will be discussed in detail with the interdisciplinary team prior to any surgical intervention. In addition we will provide a top-notch operating room experience with a neurologist, microelectrode multiple pass mapping, and careful imaging and guidance for the proper placement of your device. After it is implanted you will have full access to a dedicated staff for programming and followup of your medication and DBS needs. Should you have any problems we are always available to help you.
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