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The World Parkinson Coalition has brought in eight new Science Ambassadors to increase outreach to researchers ahead of their next major Congress.

Dayne photographed in the lab next to a microscope

OPDC career development fellow Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly has been selected by The World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) to be one of eight Science Ambassadors in the two years leading up to the 6th World Parkinson Congress in June 2022. The WPC Ambassadors will be promoting a premiere Parkinson’s learning experience for scientists, working to bring the Parkinson's community together to advance both the clinical and research goals of discovering new treatments.

Dr Beccano-Kelly has been a member of the Wade-Martins Group since 2015, where he has been utilising human iPSCs donated by people with Parkinson's (PwP) to create neurons for Parkinsonian models. Studying these models has enabled him to identify some of the earliest changes in Parkinson's in an effort to tackle the symptoms before they develop into the late stages.

On receiving his appointment, Dr Beccanno-Kelly said: "The WPC represents a powerful point of contact between medics, academic and PwPs. Bringing these individuals together allows the perspectives and ideas of each to be easily communicated to one another. Attending my first WPC in 2019, I was struck by how much these mix of viewpoints seemed to be influencing people's future plans; it was exciting to watch a novel way of pushing forwards towards better treatments. The WPC not only represents a triennial meeting, but also provides virtual panel led discussion groups and connections with the community (via online events such as choir groups) in the interim years. It is a tremendous meeting and one I will be strongly advocating healthcare professionals, PwPs and other scientists to attend!"

Read the appointment announcement on the WPC website.

Meet all eight WPC 2022 Science Ambassadors on the 6th World Parkinson Congress website.