Research Committee - Advancing Knowledge on Atypical Parkinsonism
Welcome Bhavna Saluja, our new Research Director at the Coleen Cunningham Foundation (CCF). With a deeply personal connection to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and a passion for advancing research, Bhavna is committed to supporting warriors and caregivers through innovative studies and accessible insights.
About Bhavna
Bhavna’s journey with PSP began as a caregiver for her mother, diagnosed in 2014, who passed away in February 2021 after a rapid decline. This experience, combined with other personal events, inspired her to shift from a 20-year marketing career to psychology. During her master’s studies, she connected with the CCF community, conducting a qualitative case study for her dissertation. Her research explored a potential link between complex trauma—particularly from narcissistic relationships—and PSP as a risk factor, yielding compelling findings she’s now working to publish.
As Research Director, Bhavna brings both a researcher’s rigor and a caregiver’s heart to CCF, aiming to deepen our understanding of atypical Parkinsonism and enhance support for our community.
Key Goals & Achievements
Bhavna is excited to lead CCF’s research efforts with a focus on:
- Making Research Accessible: Simplifying complex studies into clear, actionable insights for warriors, caregivers, and advocates.
- Building Partnerships: Strengthening collaboration with foundations and researchers to expand awareness and impact.
- Growing the Team: Recruiting new researchers to drive independent studies and cross-foundation projects.
Since joining, she’s immersed herself in CCF’s initiatives, laying the groundwork for impactful research advancements in atypical parkinsonism.
Addressing Challenges
Bhavna is tackling key obstacles head-on:
- Limited Research Scope: Advocating for a biopsychosocial approach to PSP, integrating psychological and social factors alongside genetics and biology.
- Accessibility Barriers: Streamlining technical findings into easy-to-understand summaries and exploring alternative methods (like caregiver reporting and digital tools) to include warrior voices despite disease-related challenges.
Her strategic vision ensures research benefits the community directly while pushing for broader, long-term progress.
Priorities Ahead
Looking to the next phase, Bhavna’s focus includes:
- Simplifying existing research for community use.
- Initiating discussions with potential partners for joint projects and funding.
- Recruiting researchers to build new studies and amplify CCF’s efforts.
How You Can Help
Bhavna welcomes board and community support to:
- Share connections with foundations, research groups, or funding bodies.
- Offer insights on communicating research effectively (e.g., formats, platforms).
- Provide guidance on expanding research capacity.
Signs of Hope
- Plans are underway to simplify and share at least three key studies for community use.
- Bhavna’s research offers fresh perspectives on PSP risk factors, paving the way for greater understanding and support.
Get Involved
Stay tuned for updates on our research initiatives and opportunities to collaborate. Together, we can raise awareness, advance knowledge, and empower warriors and caregivers.
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