Kattankulathur’s SRM Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre and King’s College, London (KCL) tied up for collaboration to undertake major research work in neuro movement disorders, especially in Parkinson’s disease, to help people in Tamil Nadu.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also proposed with respect to the collaboration between the institutions this Friday.

Many people in the state are getting affected by this disease while the general people are not even aware about the implications and symptoms of the ailment. Against this backdrop, the agreement of the SRM Hospital and Research Centre with the King’s College is going to leave no stone unturned to help the patients.

“We have been inspecting the SRM Medical College campus for the past two years and we are convinced that the institution has all the facilities, including infrastructure therefore, our organisation has agreed to do research activities and clinical tests with regard to Parkinson’s disorders,” Prof K Ray Chaudhuri, a world-renowned expert in Movement Disorders and Professor of Neurology, KCL said.

His delegation included professor of neurology, KCL and Dr Vinod Metta, consultant neurologist and visiting professor of neurology, SRM MCH and RC. PRAI was represented by Prof Rupam Borgohain, Director of Nizam’s Institute of Neurology, Hyderabad.

The SRM was represented by Dr Lt Col A. Ravikumar, pro-vice chancellor, Medical and Health Sciences, Dr A Sundaram, Dean, of SRM Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre and Dr Rajiv Janardhanan, Dean, Medical Research. Prof K Ray Chaudhuri said that the research work would soon be announced.

He clarified that Parkinson’s disease will affect everyone irrespective of their class and status. Prof K also said that there is an ongoing research on whether Parkinson’s disease could be detected at an early stage. “The research and the clinical trial here with SRM will not only help the people but also would get the government to come forward to take steps to look into the issue,” he added.

He also warned that India and China would have the most number of persons, who will suffer from Parkinson’s disease in the coming years.