Claudia Garrido-Revilla, 47, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in May 2010. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons and is an active participant in clinical research. An early registrant on Fox Trial Finder, Claudia was profiled in the Informed Patient column of the Wall Street Journal in April 2012. Claudia has been following Alzheimer’s clinical trial news and analysis over the past few weeks, and she thinks there’s more to say. She read our post on this topic with interest and felt compelled to share her point of view. What do you think? Have the Alzheimer’s results lit the fire under you to get involved in research and keep progress moving forward toward a cure, as Claudia urges? Let us know in the comments.

We applaud Todd Sherer's comments about the reality and ups and downs of medical research.

Science and discoveries are made on trial and error, we learn to walk on trial and error, and we learn all our lessons in life on trial and error. We have a current need now for better and improved treatments and we all are working hard to obtain them. We, the impatient PD patients, contribute to the extent of our possibilities knowing that there may be good days and bad days, but we keep trying, keep hoping.

Letting frustration determine next research steps can cause terrible consequences:

1.  Damaging the credibility of the clinical trials.

2.  Discouraging the participation of potential volunteers in clinical trials.

3.  Discouraging current and future investors.

How we deal with failure and success can make or break not only research and development in the Parkinson's community, but also the investigation of many other diseases that desperately need a cure.

We can't stop now, we should not stop now and we should stand strong in the methods of open research and development, never losing focus on the final destination.  Our support, hope and prayers are with MJFF and everyone working to lead research in the right direction.  Thank you for your commitment, please don't give up.