| Mission & Vision |
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VISION FOR THE FUTURE "Over the next few years, the program's efforts will expand dramatically as we recruit more clinical investigators and teams of laboratory researchers, who will continue to work on mechanisms of neurodegeneration and novel treatment approaches, such as growth factors, gene therapies, and neuroprotective medications," says Dr. Watts, the president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and former program Director and Department of Neurology Chair. "As we enter the 'century of the brain' -- a very exciting time in neuroscience --- we are poised to gain greater understanding of brain function and to develop innovative treatments not only for Parkinson's disease but other neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and brain cancer," he concludes. "As the population ages, the prevalence of Parkinson's disease is likely to increase in coming decades, making research centers like UAB critical to finding the next generation of safe and effective therapies." |