Toni Pitcher, PhD

I am involved in a number of projects relating to Parkinson’s and dementia. Within the Institute’s longitudinal Parkinson’s cohort, I co-ordinate the collection, storage, and use of biological samples (blood and urine). These samples are used in conjunction with collaborators (local, national, and international) to help further our understanding of biological pathways involved in the disease processes through the investigation of genetic and epigenetic factors, and the investigation of blood proteins levels as potential markers of the disease.
I lead an epidemiology project, providing much needed information about the number of people in New Zealand living with Parkinson’s. We continue to use the national health datasets to further our understanding of the number of people with Parkinson’s dementia, mortality within this patient group, and regional variation in the numbers with the disease. I am also part of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society’s Epidemiology Study Group.