Cardiff Researcher Secures Major Grant to Tackle Parkinson’s Freezing Symptom
14 November 2025
A Cardiff University researcher has been awarded a prestigious grant from Parkinson's UK.
Dr Jennifer Davies, Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University’s School of Healthcare Sciences, will lead a groundbreaking study into freezing of gait - a debilitating symptom of Parkinson’s disease that can leave people feeling as though they are “stuck to the floor” and unable to move.
The award, confirmed in late summer, will support a research project beginning in early 2026 that aims to uncover what happens in the brain before and during a freeze. Despite its significant impact on independence and quality of life, little is currently known about why freezing of gait occurs.
Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain cells, the study will explore whether movement-related brain cells function differently in people who experience freezing. The findings could pave the way for more effective treatments and interventions.
The research will come with the recruitment of a full-time post-doctoral researcher to support the project and will feature collaboration with colleagues at the University of Exeter, as part of the GW4 Alliance, and with members of the local Parkinson’s community.
I'm really excited about the methods that we're going to use in the project. We’re one of the few places in the world to be able to use this brain stimulation during walking and have worked hard over the last few years to develop a setup here at Cardiff that really is one-of-a-kind in the world.
She added, "The technology is reliable, robust and ready to go. The funding from Parkinson’s UK will see Parkinson’s being one of the first conditions we are trialling this new, exciting technology in. It has the potential to really benefit the Parkinson’s community."
This exciting research is one of five high-priority projects that have recently been awarded funded by Parkinson’s UK, with over £1 million awarded to support innovative studies across the UK. Read more on the Parkinson’s UK website.
