APDA Advances Parkinson’s Priorities
The second Advisory Council on Parkinson’s Research, Care, and Services (ACPRCS) took place on August 24, 2026. Below are key takeaways and next steps, along with ways for you to inform the Council’s efforts to develop a national strategy to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately cure Parkinson’s disease (PD).
August 24 ACPRCS Meeting: Key Takeaways and What You Need to Know
The meeting featured presentations from non-profit organizations focused on Parkinson’s and related disorders; an update on the federal inventory of Parkinson’s programs; and updates from the Research and Regulatory Program Subcommittee and the Care, Services, and Supports Subcommittee. Below are key highlights from the meeting, and a more detailed summary follows below:
- APDA’s President & CEO, Leslie A. Chambers, advocated for the National Plan to End Parkinson’s (NPEP) to include specific recommendations, such as increased federal investment in Parkinson’s research and development of a care model for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers that improves access to high-quality, coordinated care over time.
- The APDA Connecticut (CT) Chapter highlighted local CT Parkinson’s programming and described the importance of community engagement in Parkinson’s programming and activities.
- The Council provided an update on the federal inventory of Parkinson’s programs, which featured an overview of a common framework used for categorizing federal efforts.
- The ACPRCS Subcommittee on Research and Regulatory Program as well as the ACPRCS Subcommittee on Care, Services, and Supports each provided an update on their rosters, chairs, and discussed their initial work.
- People living with Parkinson’s shared moving and inspirational personal stories and urged the Council to address the non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, engage in policy efforts to ensure timely delivery of Parkinson’s medication, and the need to invest in disease-modifying treatment.
What Happens Next and How to Be Involved
ACPRCS Next Steps:
The Council identified the following next steps for its work:
- Coordinate with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) for the Spring 2027 NASEM workshops to help develop recommendations for the NPEP
- Continue to develop a framework to inform the work of the ACPRCS subcommittees
- Finalize care, services, and supports definition to define the scope of work for the relevant ACPRCS subcommittee
- Identify professionals for the November 9, 2026, meeting focused on public-private partnerships and for other future ACPRCS engagements
Your Next Steps:
Attend the next ACPRCS public meeting on November 9, 2026
- Attend the meeting virtually through the HHS Livestream
- Register to attend the meeting in-person at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201
- The meeting will spotlight public-private partnerships relevant to Parkinson’s
Submit a Public Comment to the ACPRCS:
- Let the Council know what matters most to you. You can email your public comments to the ACPRCS (mailto:NationalPDplan@nih.gov).
- For more public comment guidelines and instructions, please see the HHS National Plan to End Parkinson’s webpage. (More than 400 comments were submitted prior to the meeting – join the movement by adding your voice!
- Deadline: Ongoing
Stay connected with APDA Advocacy and the ACPRCS:
- Sign up for APDA Advocacy Action Alerts to learn more about APDA’s advocacy efforts
- Sign Up for the National Institutes of Health National Plan to End Parkinson’s Listserv.
As always, 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.
Learn more at www.apdaparkinson.org/advocacy or email us at advocacy@apdaparkinson.org.