Professional Education

Parkinson’s Disease Education Programs

APDA provides sponsorship support for select professional education opportunities to foster and encourage the sharing of ideas, knowledge, and possibilities among PD professionals.

Upcoming programs supported by APDA:

Planning for Prevention of Parkinson’s: A trial design forum

APDA is proud to help sponsor the 3rd Planning for Prevention of Parkinson’s: A trial design forum! Join us in Boston or online from Sunday, May 5th to Tuesday, May 7th, 2024.

This forum will bring together academic, foundation, government, industry, patient and at-risk advocacy, and regulatory stakeholders to build on progress toward the development of the first Parkinson’s disease prevention trials and the success of the 2021 and 2022 conferences.

Main meeting website and registration: https://www.accelevents.com/e/2024-planning-for-prevention-of-parkinsons-a-trial0

Abstracts are currently being accepted for the inaugural Planning for Prevention of Parkinson’s: A trial design forum Poster Session.  Abstracts presenting original, conference-related research are eligible for submission.

Abstract submissions due: March 3, 2024

Link to submit abstracts: https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=PT7ERNTAPW8HJCWK


APDA is proud to have supported the following past programs:

MDS-PAS Neuroscience of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders

The MDS-PAS Neuroscience of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders course will take place in San Diego, CA, USA immediately preceding the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting. The goal of this course is to introduce this audience, which has great sophistication in neuroscience, to the principles, basic knowledge, and unanswered questions that are important to the field of Movement Disorders.

The primary purpose of the MDS-PAS Neuroscience of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders course is to provide an overview of the principles, basic knowledge, and unanswered questions that are important to the field of Movement Disorders. The faculty consists of experts in pathology, etiology, neurodegenerative and neuroprotective mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease and other Movement Disorders. All are outstanding translational scientists in their own right, and many are expected to be attending and speaking at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) meeting, which follows this course. Throughout the course sessions, basic scientists will have the opportunity to interact with neurologists and neuroscientists to discuss movement disorders and gain a deeper understanding of symptoms and underlying mechanisms. The overall aim is to increase the number of basic and translational scientists working on questions that are important to the field and future of Movement Disorders.


Planning for Prevention of Parkinson’s: A Trial Design Forum

Oct 2-3, 2022 –  Boston, MA and virtual

APDA is proudly sponsoring Planning for Prevention of Parkinson’s: A Trial Design Forum. This educational conference which will build on recent advances in the understanding of who is at increased risk for the disease – based on genetic factors and ‘prodromal’ features and will focus on the clinical trial design and prevention trial protocols in development. This meeting is hosted by Massachusetts General Hospital and supported by NIH, philanthropy, and foundations including APDA. Researchers from academia, government, and industry as well as people living with Parkinson’s and uniquely those at increased risk for Parkinson’s will be in attendance. Their perspectives will help shape the first prevention trials in an emerging field.


Society for Neuroscience annual meeting: Neuroscience of Movement Disorders course

October 18, 2019 – Chicago, IL

Dr. Talene Yacoubian

APDA was proud to help sponsor Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, a one-day educational course designed for basic science researchers in the field of neuroscience to learn about Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD research. The course was organized by Dr. David Standaert, Chairman of APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board, along with Dr. Talene Yacoubian, an APDA-funded researcher, under the auspices of the Movement Disorders Society (MDS) and was held in October 2019, in Chicago, IL. This course, Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, took place one day before the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting where thousands of neuroscientists gathered to learn and share the latest information in their field. The overarching goal of this important course was to introduce this audience, which has great sophistication in neuroscience, to the principles, basic knowledge, and unanswered questions that are important to the field of Movement Disorders. Ultimately, by helping them gain a deeper understanding of symptoms and underlying mechanisms, it helps to inspire additional scientists to enter the field of PD research and to inform their research questions and methodologies.

APDA was thrilled to be part of the effort to teach researchers about PD and to encourage additional PD research initiatives.


Parkinson’s Disease Gordon Research Conference: Pathogenesis, Pathophysiology and Experimental Therapeutics in Parkinson’s Disease

June 23 – 28, 2019 – Newry, Maine

APDA was proud to help sponsor the 2019 Parkinson’s Disease Gordon Research Conference. This unique conference provided an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research, encouraging communication and discussion of ideas and new unpublished results amongst a range of scientists from a variety of fields.

The field of Parkinson’s disease research has matured tremendously over the last 20 years, in large part much of this progress has been driven by genetic and molecular insights into disease etiology and pathogenesis. This conference aimed to bring together scientists interested in understanding the underlying disease processes with an eye toward effecting the development and deployment of etiologic-based therapeutics.


World Parkinson Congress: 5th World Parkinson Congress

June 4-7, 2019 – Kyoto, Japan

APDA was a Bronze Sponsor of the 5th World Parkinson Congress where more than 3,000 people from 60+ countries attended. Attendees were those dedicated to understanding, researching, treating, and curing Parkinson’s disease (PD), including those who are living with it. As medical advances continue to accelerate, the goal of the WPC is to advance an all-encompassing approach to the treatment of Parkinson’s by bringing together the full spectrum of those who serve the Parkinson’s community and those who live with PD.


American Parkinson Disease Association’s: Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Conference

Friday, May 17, 2019 – Elizabeth, NJ

APDA hosted a thought-provoking conference to address the unique and urgent needs surrounding Parkinson’s disease (PD) in diverse and under-served communities.

This project was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EAIN-13547).


Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation: The Krembil Knowledge Gaps in Parkinson’s Disease Symposium: Revision vs. Reconstruction

April 24-26, 2019 – Toronto, Canada

APDA is supporting the Krembil Knowledge Gaps in Parkinson’s Disease Symposium: Revision vs. Reconstruction taking place in Toronto, April 24-26, 2019. The symposium will bring together leading researchers from across the globe to discuss how to best approach the increase of PD diagnoses as the population ages and lives longer.

The number of people diagnosed with PD is anticipated to rise by more than 50% by the year 2030, as our population ages and life expectancy increases.  Most importantly, PD continues to have a major impact on individuals with the disease and their families. The current treatments for PD only alleviate some symptoms but do not prevent progression of the underlying neurodegeneration. Leading researchers in neurodegenerative disease from around the world will come together at this symposium to continue our relentless pursuit to find a cure.


The First Annual Tremor Conference: College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University

May 11-12, 2018 – New York, NY

APDA supported the First Annual Tremor Conference, which took place on May 11-12, 2018 in New York City. Researchers from around the world gathered at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center for the first of its kind conference dedicated to the physiology, diagnosis and management of tremor.


Society for Neuroscience annual meeting: Neuroscience of Movement Disorders course

November 2, 2018 – San Diego, CA

APDA is proud to help sponsor Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, a one-day educational course designed for basic science researchers in the field of neuroscience to learn about Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD research. The course is organized by Dr. David Standaert, Chairman of APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board, along with Dr. Talene Yacoubian, an APDA-funded researcher, under the auspices of the Movement Disorders Society (MDS) and will be held on Nov 2, 2018, in San Diego, CA. This course, Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, will take place one day before the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting where thousands of neuroscientists gather to learn and share the latest information in their field. The overarching goal of this important course is to introduce this audience, which has great sophistication in neuroscience, to the principles, basic knowledge and unanswered questions that are important to the field of Movement Disorders. Ultimately, by helping them gain a deeper understanding of symptoms and underlying mechanisms, it will help to inspire additional scientists to enter the field of PD research and to inform their research questions and methodologies.

APDA is thrilled to be part of the effort to teach researchers about PD and to encourage additional PD research initiatives.