This World Parkinson’s Day, 11 April 2026, the MRC PPU celebrates its long-standing partnership with the Dundee Research Interest Group (DRIG) - a collaboration that builds community and strengthens Parkinson’s research.

Since 2017, DRIG has brought together people with Parkinson’s, carers, clinicians and researchers, helping to improve research culture and ensuring that lived experience plays a meaningful role in shaping and sharing research.

“Working closely with the Dundee Research Interest Group has been transformative for our research. Their insight and lived experience help shape the questions we ask, challenge our assumptions, and ensure that our work remains grounded in what matters most to people affected by Parkinson’s. This partnership not only strengthens our research culture and the relevance of the science we undertake, but also inspires our researchers to work even harder to better understand and ultimately treat Parkinson’s.”

- Dario Alessi, MRC PPU Director

A partnership that makes a difference

Collaboration between DRIG and the MRC PPU goes far beyond traditional research engagement. DRIG members contribute to funding applications, research discussions, and public engagement activities - including engagement with policymakers and politicians - to raise awareness of Parkinson’s research.

This shared approach benefits everyone involved - supporting more relevant science, deepening researchers’ understanding of Parkinson’s, and building a strong, connected community.

The success of the annual DRIG Open Doors Day events in our Faculty of Life Sciences highlights the strength of this community. These events bring together over 100 researchers, people with Parkinson’s, and carers each year for lab tours, talks, and open discussion - creating space for meaningful dialogue, shared learning, and lasting connections.

"DRIG has established itself as an invaluable forum for sharing the latest developments in Parkinson’s research, fostering collaboration with scientists and clinicians, planning public engagement activities, and delivering accessible easy-to-understand information for people living with the condition. For many early-career researchers, involvement with DRIG represents their first opportunity to engage directly with people affected by Parkinson’s. This interaction provides crucial insight into the real-world impact of their work, deepening their understanding of the condition and strengthening their sense of purpose. In turn, this exchange is highly motivating for both researchers and participants. The exceptional standard of research being undertaken in the MRC PPU, show-cased through annual open days for DRIG members, offers a powerful source of hope for people with Parkinson’s. These events help foster a growing belief that meaningful advances, and ultimately a cure, are becoming increasingly more probable."

- Brendan Hawdon, DRIG Chair

Looking ahead

As we mark World Parkinson’s Day, the MRC PPU recognises the continued commitment and insight of DRIG members. Together, this partnership is not only advancing understanding of Parkinson’s, but also shaping how research and engagement are carried out – making them more inclusive, relevant, and impactful for everyone involved.

Watch this Medical Research Council Public Partnerships in Research webinar to learn how this partnership, and our Parkinsons’s Exchanges project, are shaping best practice in public involvement in research.

If you'd like to sign up to receive emails from the Dundee Research Interest Group, please complete this short online form