The Tom Isaacs Award

We welcome nominations from anyone connected to Parkinson’s, including people living with the condition, care partners, family members and friends, as well as researchers, collaborators, and those involved in research or engagement activities.

Nominees should be researchers working in Parkinson’s who can demonstrate meaningful collaboration with people affected by the condition and who are making, or show strong potential to make, a positive difference to people’s lives.

Strong nominations will show:

• meaningful collaboration with people affected by Parkinson’s
• evidence of impact, or strong potential for impact
• ongoing commitment to partnership
• and a clear spirit of working alongside people affected by the condition.

Please write clearly and concisely, using examples and evidence wherever possible. Try to avoid overly technical language so your nomination can be understood by both researchers and people affected by Parkinson’s.

If you are a person affected by Parkinson’s, your lived experience and perspective are especially valuable.

When describing involvement, please go beyond simple consultation. We are looking for examples where researchers have actively involved and supported people affected by Parkinson’s to help shape, influence or guide their research, for example through co-design, shared decision-making, advisory groups, governance, or co-authorship.

Strong answers explain:

• how people were involved
• when they were involved (for example during the idea, design or delivery stages)
• what they contributed
• and what difference their involvement made.

Personal experiences and observations are welcomed. You may wish to include examples from events, conversations, research participation, community activities, advocacy work, or changes you have personally seen or experienced.

Links or references can be included where helpful. Supporting evidence might also include publications, clinical studies, policy or guideline contributions, public involvement activities, or feedback from people affected by Parkinson’s.

When describing impact, focus on how the research has helped, or could help, people affected by Parkinson’s in real life. This might include improving care or treatment, helping people manage symptoms or daily life more easily, improving understanding of Parkinson’s, increasing access to support or research opportunities, or influencing services, guidance or policy.

Impact does not need to be fully realised yet, but there should be a clear sense of how the research could lead to meaningful benefits in the future.

Across your answers, try to show how involving people affected by Parkinson’s has strengthened the research and contributed to its impact.

Involvement of people living with Parkinson’s

Please describe how people were involved in the research, at what stages they were involved, and how their involvement influenced or improved the work.

Impact on the lives of people living with Parkinson’s

Please describe how the research has helped, or could help, people affected by Parkinson’s. This might include improvements to care, treatment, support, quality of life, access to research, or understanding of Parkinson’s.

Where possible, include examples of how the work has already been used, or how it could lead to meaningful benefits in the future.

Other information you feel might be of interest to us

You may include supporting evidence such as publications, clinical studies, policy or guideline contributions, public involvement or engagement activities, testimonials, or personal observations and experiences. Links or references can also be included where helpful.

Nominations are reviewed by a panel including both researchers and people affected by Parkinson’s.

They are assessed on:

• collaboration and involvement
• impact or potential impact
• commitment to partnership
• and the overall spirit of working alongside people affected by Parkinson’s.

Each area is scored from 1 (limited evidence) to 5 (exceptional evidence).