The explosion
of development in the movement disorders
arena in the last decade is a result of
considerable sub-specialisation, both in
research and in clinical practice. Remarkable
advances have been made in several areas-
functional anatomy of the Basal Ganglia,
Epidemiology, Genetics, Neuroimaging, and
management including Neurosurgery.
Genetic research
has resulted in better understanding of
Pathophysiology, and advances in specific
treatment approaches. The area of Pharmacogenomics,
the identification of the genes for Dopa
responsive Dystonia and relief through Levo
Dopa therapy, is a prime example of such
progress.
Yet, controversies
abound; the unresolved link between rural
residence, well water drinking and Parkinson's
disease; the protective effect of smoking;
differences in prevalence, and altered patterns
of Pathophysiology in various ethnic groups;
differential treatment responses among ethnic
groups; role of infections, toxins and other
environmental agents in the genesis and
Pathophysiology of various movement disorders;
putative differences in outcome across cultures;
and so on.
Further,
the need to synthesise research approaches,
develop standard international research
protocols, identify areas for potential
research collaboration between developed
and developing nations, and identify areas
for future research development, is more
prominent than ever today, following on
from the extraordinary success of the human
genome project.
To this end,
a three-day international workshop was organised
in Chennai, India, bringing together a large
number of acknowledged experts from multiple
sub-specialities, from around the world,
with a group of Indian experts representing
developing nations. With 300 registrants
from India, the region and indeed around
the world, this workshop enabled inter-disciplinary
interaction of the highest order, and the
synthesis of high quality clinical and research
information. The discussions in this workshop
are expected to appear as a full supplement
in the prestigious journal, "The Lancet
Neurology". Cd's of this workshop's proceedings
can now be ordered through this website.
This workshop
was endorsed by the movement disorders society
and an academic highlight was a panel discussion
on research priorities for developing nations,
sponsored by the Wellcome Trust
