PPIE Award Winner 2024: BEAM Lab and ‘Parkinson’s from inside out’
In this blog series we will be featuring our award winners and highly commended recipients from the Faculty’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to PPIE’ awards. The awards showcase inspirational and outstanding commitment to PPIE that has made a positive difference to our community and highlights the amazing events, activities, people and groups from across the Faculty.
Our latest blog in this series features the Body, Eye and Movement (BEAM) Lab and their ‘Parkinson’s from inside out’ article, who were winners in our Inclusivity category.The article describes a long-term collaboration between researchers and a person living with Parkinson’s, and represents a positive example of co-produced PPIE activity.
Led by Prof Ellen Poliakoff and Dr Emma Gowen, the Body, Eye and Movement (BEAM) Lab conducts research into different processes of the brain. A key area of focus has been into the effects of Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease that produces both motor and non-motor systems.
Through their Parkinson’s research, the BEAM Lab team have pioneered innovative approaches to Public and Patient Involvement (PPI). They have worked alongside people with Parkinson’s to amplify voices, build partnerships and develop co-produced research.
Beginning in 2011, the lab team were keen to work with people with Parkinson’s to promote the lab’s research on movement and imitation in Parkinson’s. Their aim was to improve communication with lay audiences and to make lab-based testing sessions for people with Parkinson’s as comfortable and effective as possible.
The perspective provided by collaborative working has shaped the direction of their research into imitation and Parkinson’s, leading to further collaborative research to translate the findings into interventions. Through co-design, the team has used imitation and imagination techniques to improve movements in Parkinson’s, including through a dance class.
Recent work has included co-developing a resource to explain the potential use of imagination of movement in daily life for people with Parkinson’s. The group have also worked together to establish a broader culture of PPI within the BEAM Lab and psychology in general.
Their innovative approach has had a wide-reaching impact. Ellen and collaborator Matthew Sullivan published a journal article reflecting on their collaborative journey and the benefits of PPI. Ellen and Matthew have also co-taught undergraduate students about Parkinson’s. Their collaboration has inspired others to follow their example by integrating PPI into their own work. Ellen and Matthew have also contributed to national involvement strategy and training through membership of Parkinson’s UK Involvement Steering Group.
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