UCC Leads Groundbreaking PD-Life Parkinson’s Research Hub

PD-Life (Enhancing Wellbeing and Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease), a €4 million project funded by the Higher Education Authority's North-South Research Programme, will establish the first all-island hub of excellence dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s.

Led by Professor Suzanne Timmons from UCC Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation in the School of Medicine, this initiative places UCC at the forefront of Parkinson’s research on the island.

A UCC-Led Collaborative Vision
PD-Life brings together a powerful consortium of researchers from six partner institutions, with UCC as the lead academic partner. The project unites our own experts with colleagues from Queen’s University Belfast (co-lead), Tyndall National Institute, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, and the University of Ulster.

What makes PD-Life truly distinctive is its interdisciplinary approach, a reflection of UCC’s collaborative ethos. The hub will draw on expertise from across the university and beyond – including neurology, nursing, psychology, pharmacy, engineering, and the creative arts – to tackle Parkinson’s from every angle.

Research That Matters
The project will focus its research on three interconnected themes that are priorities for the Parkinson’s community: confronting stigma by understanding and reducing social barriers; supporting mental health by addressing critical areas like depression and anxiety; and promoting exercise and dance by exploring the benefits of physical activity on movement, mood, and resilience. These themes will be explored through the lenses of gender, culture, and technology – ensuring the research is inclusive and impactful.

‘Projects like PD-Life give me an immense sense of hope for the future. Living with Parkinson’s can be a lonely experience, and raising public awareness is crucial. The non‑motor symptoms – the hidden mental challenges – need more conversation, and this project helps make that happen,’ says Dr. Brenda O’Connell of Parkinson’s Ireland.

Building Research Capacity at UCC and Beyond
PD-Life is ultimately about people – the hub will support a new generation of researchers, including a cohort of nine funded PhD students and several postdoctoral researchers. Our own junior researchers at UCC will benefit from cross-institutional mentorship and mobility opportunities, helping to develop future leaders in ageing and brain science research – a key priority under the UCC Futures – Future Ageing & Brain Science thematic area.

Crucially, people with Parkinson’s and their advocates are core partners in this work, with Parkinson’s Ireland represented on the project’s steering committee. Parkinson’s UK (Northern Ireland) are also involved in the team. This ensures research remains grounded in the real-world needs of the community.

Robin McGuckin, a member of the NI Research Interest Group (Parkinson’s UK) who lives with Parkinson’s, adds: ‘It is always encouraging to see cooperation between research bodies, building on previous work and maximising benefits for those impacted by Parkinson’s. Getting involved in and supporting research helps me to better understand the condition, giving hope for the future.’

Celebrating UCC Research Excellence
This significant investment is a testament to the world-class research being conducted at UCC and the leadership of Professor Timmons and her team. PD-Life exemplifies how we are delivering on our commitment to interdisciplinary, impactful research that addresses society’s greatest challenges.

The official Kick-Off Meeting took place on 7-8 May 2026, marking the start of a four-year journey that will elevate Ireland’s research profile and, most importantly, make a tangible difference to the lives of people with Parkinson’s.

Huge congratulations to Professor Timmons and everyone at UCC involved in this transformative project. We look forward to sharing more updates as PD-Life gets underway.

To read more about the project’s origins and goals, you can visit the articles from partners at Parkinson’s Europe and Parkinson’s Ireland.
PD-Life is a Strand II project funded under the North South Research Programme (NSRP). The NSRP is a collaborative scheme funded through the Government’s Shared Island Fund. It is administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.