A UNIVERSITY of York professor has been named among the nation's lifesavers for his work researching Parkinson's.
Prof Stephen Smith and his team have been recognised for their research into Parkinson's diagnosis and treatment.
The team has been placed on the Universities UK list of the top 100 university researchers whose work is making a life-changing difference.
Prof Smith's team is developing medical devices to accurately measure the progression of Parkinson's and the side effects of medication for its treatment.
The team and collaborators at Leeds General Infirmary and Heriot Watt University have developed two monitors, which have the potential to greatly improve the quality of data medical staff can access when prescribing medication or assessing the disease's progress.
The LID-Monitor has sensors which track patients' movements continuously, uploading data and reducing the need for hospital visits, while the PD-Monitor analyses a simple finger tapping task, a standard test to assess the progress of the condition.
Prof Smith said: "The technology we have developed has huge implications for early diagnosis. The devices allow us to detect previously imperceptible differences in movement, which are key indicators in diagnosing [and] can ensure that individuals get the correct medication, helping to improve quality of life and reducing hospital admissions and costs."
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