Fall / Winter 2023 | The New Era 3
“ A breakthrough like this is transformative : This is the game changer we were waiting for .”
We are here to help you understand the scientific advances as they emerge at a seemingly impossible and exhilarating rate . That begins with understanding what the new biomarker is and our plans to optimize it to make it even more useful to research , and what the next steps are for a biological staging system that will help screen and determine who is at risk and more precisely match patients to the right clinical trials testing new drugs .
In this issue of The Fox Focus on Parkinson ’ s we ’ ll go into detail on these topics . And you ’ ll read the personal thoughts from people living with Parkinson ’ s and what these discoveries mean for them , years after they were diagnosed in some cases ; how drug trials are already being impacted ; and what the biomarker and staging system will mean for care in the future .
We want to hear from you too . Since last spring , I ’ ve been traveling around the country , meeting with people in their living rooms , reading responses from the community online and hearing from friends and family — and strangers — about what the news means .
Above all , I ’ ve been reminded of , and moved by , the hundreds of thousands of people — patients and their families , researchers , clinicians , advocates and supporters — who have been there from the beginning and who have made this transformative moment possible . From participating in clinical trials , to giving of your time and energy to advocate for policy changes and helping raise money for research , you are essential in the progress being made today .
Your support and engagement are critical in advancing our understanding of the science . And while we don ’ t have all the answers yet , we do know one thing : we are closer than ever to having the solutions patients and families with Parkinson ’ s urgently need . We can ’ t do it without you , and we are , as always , grateful for your support .
With gratitude ,
Debi Brooks , CEO and Co-Founder