Outreach

2018 - Mr Science visits the lab and the Parkinson Research Clinic

In May 2018, Mr Science visited the lab of the Translational Neuroscience group at the LCSB, as well as the Parkinson Research Clinic, to better understand how researchers use skin samples donated by patients to obtain neutrons in the lab and study Parkinson's disease. Have a look at the video below and check out the full article on Science.lu.

Science Festival 2017

From November 9 to 12, the 2017 edition of the Science Festival, organised by the FNR and the National Museum of Natural History, took place in the Grund and its Abbaye de Neumünster. With more than 50 workshops for both children and adults, the Science Festival attracted a large public. They had the opportunity to discussed with the researchers present at the event and also to take part in various scientific experiments. 

The National Centre of Excellence in Research on Parkinson's Disease (NCER-PD) was present there with a booth called “Shaken, not stirred!”. In order to raise awareness about Parkinson's disease and the research activities of the NCER-PD, hundreds of visitors tried on a Parkinson suit which simulates one of the most representative motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease: the muscle rigidity. 

By placing electrodes on the forearm, one can experiment the other most representative motor symptom: the tremors. Because the disease affects other parts of the body as well, the researchers also showed the test used in the study for other symptoms. The visitors could test their sense of smell, their dexterity and their color vision, thus understanding how the brain controls the senses and the movements and why they are affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Pillow Fight 2017

On 2 September, a Giant Public Pillow Fight took place in Luxembourg in front of the Grand Ducal Palace. The event’s aim was to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and the research activities of the National Centre of Excellence in Research on Parkinson’s Disease (NCER-PD).

Throughout the afternoon, hundreds of visitors could not only join the pillow fights and buy a piece of Baamkuch, but also visit the stands of the  Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL), Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (CHEM), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) and the Scienteens Lab, and learn more about research on Parkinson’s disease in Luxembourg. They could also try on a Parkinson suit ,which simulates the two most representative motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: the muscle rigidity and the tremors. Because the disease affects other parts of the body as well, the researchers also showed the test used in the study for other symptoms. The visitors could test their dexterity, their sense of smell and their color vision, thus understanding how the brain controls the senses and the movements and why they are affected by Parkinson’s disease.

NCER-PD Summer Party 2016 & 2017

For two years in a row, on 8 July 2016 and 30 June 2017, the NCER-PD Summer Party hosted NCER-PD participants and their families. The attendants had the opportunity to visit various labs, check out the booths and take home goodies! We would to thank the participants as well as our partners (Association Luxembourgeoise des Orthophonistes, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg, patients association Parkinson Lëtzebuerg asbl, UniJam) for helping host the event.

NCER-PD Spring Tour 2016 & 2017

Each April we celebrate the birthday of James Parkinson, who first described the disease in 1817 as characteristics of Parkinson’s. Patient groups around the world organise the World Parkinson’s Day around the 11th of April, to draw attention to the disease and inform on symptoms and treatment options.  The NCER-PD Team was also very busy during the month of April. Thanks to the Flying Team Van, the team participates in different events in Luxembourg and the Greater Region. The team talks about the NCER-PD research through presentations and the information booths.

CFL Journée Sécurité Santé 2017

The NCER-PD team participated with a booth at the 2017 edition of the CFL event "Journée Sécurité Santé". The aim of the event was to inform the CFL employees on topics related to health and safety at work. The NCER-PD team had the opportunity to spread information about Parkinson's Disease and the research on it in Luxembourg, as well as to encourage new volunteers to participate in the clinical study.  

Physioherapist Day 2017

The NCER-PD team participated at the Physiotherapist Day at the  Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg; this event was a great opportunity for the team to develop the collaborations with the physiotherapists in Luxembourg.

Physician Day 2017

The NCER-PD team participated at the "Physician's day" in Luxembourg City. The aim of the event was to ease the conversation between physicians and patients.

AEPU Conference 2017

The NCER-PD team and AEPU (Association d’enseignement post-universitaire) jointly organised a conference on the topic of Parkinson's disease with the theme "The patientat the centre of research and care". This was a great opportunity to reinforce collaborations with doctors in Luxembourg and the Greater Region.