Jon Stamford is a man with a dual interest in Parkinson’s. A neuroscientist by training with a PhD (1985) from the University of London and a BSc (1980) and DSc (2000) from the University of Bath, he spent more than 20 years heading a small research team looking (inter alia) at dopamine function in the basal ganglia and its relationship to Parkinson’s disease and treatment. Apart from brief spells working in the United States, most of this research was conducted at the same institution – The Royal London Hospital and London Hospital Medical College – where James Parkinson had trained.
In 2006, he reluctantly acquired a different perspective when he was himself diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his 40s. However his diagnosis quickly became a source of motivation and, since 2008, he has been an active patient advocate, helping to improve public and scientific understanding of this enigmatic condition.
He served on the editorial board of Parkinson’s UK‘s magazine THE PARKINSON for two years and was one of the original 16 ambassadors for the WORLD PARKINSON CONGRESS in Montréal in 2013.
In 2010 he was a co-founder of PARKINSON’S MOVEMENT, a global patient advocacy group focused on ensuring high level patient representation and involvement in research and development. He remained director of Parkinson’s Movement and worked for the CURE PARKINSON’S TRUST as a scientific and advocate communications coordinator until his (partial)retirement in April 2017.
In 2014 he founded PARKINSON’S INSIDE OUT, a small think tank of clinicians and neuroscientists who also had Parkinson’s. Jon is also a keen supporter, research consultant and trustee for SPOTLIGHT YOPD.
Always keen to find an educational dimension to the experience of living with Parkinson’s, Jon is a popular invited speaker and an active contributor to many advisory and research boards .
He enjoys writing and, from 2012 to 2016, was editor in chief of ON THE MOVE, an online English and foreign language magazine for the global Parkinson’s community. He has also written several scientific books as well as others describing the patient experience of Parkinson’s and for many years wrote a popular weekly blog entitled SLICE OF LIFE. Jon also serves on the editorial boards of NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE MANAGEMENT and the JOURNAL OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
In his spare time, he is a keen photographer and glassmaker. But, when day is done, he enjoys nothing more than listening to the music of Richard Wagner with a glass of malt whisky.
Jon can best be reached by email at:
J_a_stamford at yahoo dot co dot uk