Jim Sheridan wears sensors on his body as part of OxQuip, investigating new methods of measuring Parkinson's Disease.
A RETIRED physicist who has taken part in 'countless' clinical trials after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease has said others should follow his lead.
Dr Jim Sheridan, 62, who has been a guinea pig in many studies including a current one at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said the studies gave him 'hope'.
It comes as the number of medical studies at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hit an all-time high in new figures released this week.
Dr Sheridan, who became a grandfather on Sunday, was diagnosed with the neurological condition in 2010 after his hand started shaking in a meeting.
He said: "I came to terms with it quite quickly. My GP had pointed out that it could be a brain tumour and of all the various options, Parkinson's is one of the least offensive.
"Very early on I put my name forward for trials. I don't think many Oxfordshire-based trials have gone by without my volunteering for them."
Jim Sheridan wears sensors on his body as part of OxQuip, investigating new methods of measuring Parkinson's Disease with Dr James FitzGerald and Dr Chrystalina Antoniades
Dr Sheridan, of Wheatley, is currently taking part in 'OxQUIP' - the Oxford study of Quantification in Parkinsonism - with his wife Hilary, 60, in the control group.
Volunteers perform a range of tasks over the two-year study such as walking, balancing and finger-to-thumb tapping while wearing sensors that measure their performance, including infra-red eye cameras and 'accelerometers' - which measure the acceleration of a moving body - attached to their hands, feet, wrists, backs and chests.
He said: "This is one of the more exciting we have had in terms of helping people; by measuring our behaviour they can tell whether our medication is improving.
"Being involved in trials is very therapeutic. It makes you feel as though you are involved in progressing research, and hopefully getting towards a cure.
"I would absolutely, definitely encourage others to do the same with no hesitation. The researchers are so positive and it gives you hope something will come of it."
Last month the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, a partnership between Oxford University and OUH, was awarded another £113.7m for research until 2022.
In May 2016 the number of studies active was 1,786, up seven per cent from May last year and more than double the 554 being carried out in May 2008.
Studies hosted at Oxford's hospitals are being carried out on cancer treatments, vaccines and respiratory and cardiovascular medicine by both clinicians and scientists.
OUH medical director Tony Berendt said the trust was 'delighted' at the continued progress in increasing the number of research studies at the trust.
He added: "It is vital that we embed the proven benefits of research into daily clinical care and give more and more patients the opportunity to participate."
http://health.einnews.com/article/352141176/fFY0BV4sI3gDMEpv
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