A documentary highlighting a major drug trial for Parkinson’s Disease is recognised as the ‘best science documentary’.

The Parkinson’s Drug Trial: A Miracle Cure, a two-part medical series which focused on Tom Isaacs from Croxley who co-founded The Cure Parkinson’s Trust before he died, won a Grierson Award for Best Science Documentary.

It documented a revolutionary drug-trial for Parkinson’s disease which involves a brain surgery and a GDNF drug or placebo being directly infused.

Mr Isaacs, born in Chorleywood, was diagnosed at 26 with Parkinson’s and co-founded the Trust with his wife Lyndsey.

The co-founder was one of the many trial participants who shared their emotional journey battling against time to find a cure for Parkinson’s, however he unfortunately died during the making of the documentary on May 31, 2017.

Watford Observer:

Tom Isaacs was one of the trial participants in the documentary.

Mrs Isaacs, who is now a trustee of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, said: “The Parkinson’s Drug Trial is an honest depiction of the human side of what it is like to be involved in a major drug trial.

“It shows the impact it has on everyone involved – the patients, their families and the medical teams.

“It also highlights the impact that Parkinson’s has on all aspects of living and the vital need for these advancements in medicine to be funded and investigated further.

“I know that Tom, as I am, was incredibly proud to have played a part in this inspiring documentary.”

The series aired between February to March on BBC Two and the documentary creator Jemima Harrison and her Passionate Productions team received the award on November 14 at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Halls.

Ms Harrison said: “We owe so much to Tom Isaacs both for being the one who invited us to film the GDNF trial in the first place and for her being so utterly unflinching in demanding that we document his Parkinson’s with such brutal honesty.

“It was phenomenally brave of him and all the other trial volunteers who put their lives on the line for science.

“I hope the series has played a role in raising awareness of how very badly a cure is needed and that it will remain a part of Tom’s enduring legacy.”