Swedish Parkinson Academy

SPA

The Swedish Parkinson Academy (SPA) is a research platform at Skåne University hospital that facilitates clinical research projects related to Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders at Lund University and Skåne University hospital. SPA consists of research coordinators, medical doctors, trained research nurses and assistant nurses. Researchers (PIs) can apply to use these research nurses/assistant nurses in their studies. PIs pay 50% of the salary of the research nurses/assitant nurses in case of non-commercial studies and SPA pays the remaining 50%. In case of commercial or EU-financed studies, PIs pay 100% of the salary.
SPA is financially supported by MultiPark at Lund University and external research grants; so far mostly by Olle Engkvist Foundation.

SPA is located at the Wigert building (ground level; Remissgatan 4, Skane university hospital, Lund), with access to 9 office rooms and 4 rooms for clinical examinations. SPA consists of research coordinators, trained research nurses, assistant nurses and medical doctors. SPA is well equipped concerning know-how and equipment for clinical and translational research related to Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders (commercial as well as non-commercial studies).

SPA is the coordinating centra for the Swedish Parkinson Register (ParkREG), which holds information on 12 000 patients with Parkinson’s disease in Sweden. ParkREG is part of the Swedish Neuro Registries (www.neuroreg.se). Researchers within a hospital who are registered in ParkREG have automatic access to all patients listed in that hospital. National data is available upon accepted application. Statistic data from the register is available on the Swedish Neuro Registries website.

SPA has capacity for all steps of studies (academic as well as commercial), including protocol development, applications to EC and MPA, execution, statistical evaluation and publication. The SPA has experience of phase I-IV studies.

SPA is led by a board who meets about 6 times a year. The composition of the board is described in the bylaws. The chairman (currently Per Odin) has an executive function and is appointed by the director of research at Skåne University Hospital. The chairman has the overarching responsibility for the economy and management of SPA. One of the research coordinators (currently Stina Jonasson) is in charge of the administrative management and supports the chairman in his work.