Dr Cedric Bardy shared his research in a behind-the-scenes tour of his SAHMRI laboratory with key stakeholders on World Parkinson’s Day last month.

Supported by Parkinson’s SA, the tour on April 11 2019 was an opportunity for Dr Bardy and his team to engage with their most important partners – the people they are working hard to help. The event shared practical insights into exciting research happening at the lab, while enhancing the research team’s perspectives through first-hand accounts of a diverse range of lived experiences.

Dr Bardy is Director of the Laboratory for Human Neurobiology and Genetics at SAHMRI. His current research involves reprogramming skin cells into stem cells to create live human brain tissue to study.

It’s a slow process, but once the brain cells are grown, they can be examined in intricate detail and will hopefully shed light on the differences between healthy brain tissue and those of a person with Parkinson’s Disease.

The research aims to lead to better treatments, with a focus on slowing or stopping progression of the disease by protecting remaining healthy brain cells.

Dr Bardy says it is so important to meet the people his team is working for.

“It’s so inspiring and motivating to meet people for who the fight against Parkinson’s is so much more personal. We can take a break when we go home at night. For them it’s 24/7.”

“Our guests have no idea how valuable it’s been to hear them speak. Visits like this are something we try to do regularly and every time we get a different perspective on Parkinson’s, the impact it has on people’s lives and the role we as researchers can play.”

Read about the visit on the SAHMRI research news page.