Progress is Underway: Recap of the First Advisory Council Meeting
Progress is underway! The inaugural Advisory Council on Parkinson’s Research, Care, and Services (ACPRCS) meeting took place on June 29, 2026 — an important step forward in the national effort to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately cure Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
During this first meeting, Parkinson’s disease Congressional champions, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) provided opening remarks and expressed the urgent need to support PD research, services, and efforts to develop a cure. NIH/NINDS leadership introduced ACRPCS members, including representatives from various federal agencies, people living with PD, care partners, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy organizations — including three leaders affiliated with APDA.
The meeting included an overview of the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Request for Information Strategy, which seeks input from the Parkinson’s community on the most important gaps and opportunities in Parkinson’s research, care, and services that will help inform the National Plan. The ACPRCS wants to hear from you! You can make your voice heard and submit a public comment on your top priorities for the National Plan to End Parkinson’s by August 22, 2026 (please send your comments to nationalPDplan@nih.gov).
The Council is scheduled to meet three more times this year, on 8/24/2026, 11/09/2026, and 12/07/2026. These are public meetings that you can view live via hhs.gov/live.
APDA will remain engaged with the Council as it develops the National Plan to End Parkinson’s to ensure the plan is shaped by the Parkinson’s community for the Parkinson’s community.
To learn more about APDA’s advocacy efforts and to sign up for Advocacy Action Alerts, please visit www.apdaparkinson.org/advocacy