Tourettes Action Funded Research 2017-2019

Read about the Tourettes Action research portfolio supporting the highest quality research programmes and initiatives funded between 2017 - 2019.

Why Tourettes Action funded this round of research

TS is perhaps the most publicly misunderstood of all neurological conditions and has considerable stigma attached. People with TS experience personal isolation and rejection, as well as significant disadvantages in education, employment and health care across a range of encounters with statutory agencies and services. Severe physical tics can not only cause individuals embarrassment but also pain and injury. There is currently no specific medication that will cure or fully control the symptoms of TS. Treatment uses a variety of drugs to reduce tics and other features with varying degrees of success. A few of the most seriously affected patients have undergone neurosurgical deep brain stimulation, a treatment that is established for other movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, tremor and dystonia. For TS it is not yet considered a standard treatment. Although there have been positive results, not all patients have had a sustained benefit in the long-term. Psychological and/or behavioural treatments such as habit reversal therapy are evidence-based but often unavailable due to lack of specialised therapists.

TA is dedicated to providing information, support, services, and advocacy for and on behalf of those living with TS. We wish to help to improve their lives in the present with information, support, and direct services; and in the future by promoting understanding and advocating policy change where necessary. 

The unique role of Tourettes Action in the research landscape and how it adds value

TA is the largest UK based charity working with families and individuals living with TS and is therefore well placed to promote and evaluate research. It can add value above the purely financial by working with both the community and those living with TS to help identify individuals willing to take part in research and assisting researchers with the structure and approval of proposed research. 

The types of grants we supported

TA funded research through designated funds in the region of £75,000.00 per annum for 3 years.

Funding rounds occured once a year with a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) being advertised in the Autumn and awards being made in the Summer of the following year. Grants were awarded to principal investigators based in recognised research centres, universities or hospitals in the UK or Europe. The following types of grant were available:

• Pilot and feasibility studies for applications to major funders for large-scale research studies
• Stand-alone projects
• Postgraduate student research projects, (awarded to supervisors)

Click here to see details of the 2017 funded projects

Click here to see details of the 2018 funded projects

Click here to see details of the 2019 funded projects