## Breadcrumb - [Home](/) - [Advancing Research](/advancing-research) - [Our Research](/advancing-research/our-research) - [PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration) ## Breadcrumb - [Home](/) - [Advancing Research](/advancing-research) - [Our Research](/advancing-research/our-research) - [PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration) # PD GENEration Leadership ## 💡 Quick Summary - The [PD GENEration](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration "PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation") study is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Roy N. Alcalay and a multidisciplinary Steering Committee of neurologists, geneticists, researchers, clinicians and patient advocates from top institutions. - The program is supported by extensive partnerships across clinical sites and research groups enabling genetic testing, counseling, data storage and large-scale research. - Equity initiatives expand access to genetic research in [Black](/living-with-parkinsons/finding-care/black-community "Black Community & Parkinson’s"), [Hispanic and Latino communities](/living-with-parkinsons/finding-care/hispanic-latino-community "Hispanic and Latino Community & Parkinson’s") through culturally tailored outreach, materials and participation strategies. ![Group of people looking at genetics on whiteboard](/sites/default/files/styles/no_sizing/public/images/studyleadership.jpg?itok=lpjh5z0a) These individuals work to make life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) through their leadership and participation in the [PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation's](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration "PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation") study. ### Principal Investigator **Roy N. Alcalay, MD, MS** Chief of the Movement Disorders Division at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Parkinson’s Foundation Scientific Advisory Board Member and part-time Associate Professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center ### Current Members of the Steering Committee ![Roy Alcalay headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Roy_Alcalay-2025.jpg?itok=XHf-47Wo) **Roy N. Alcalay, MD, MS** Chief of the Movement Disorders Division at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Parkinson’s Foundation Scientific Advisory Board Member and part-time Associate Professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center --- ![Tatiana Foroud headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Tatiana_Foroud.jpg?itok=YQn6X-ps) **Tatiana Foroud, PhD** Executive Assistant Dean of Research Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine --- ![Sarah Lawrence headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Sarah_Lawrence.jpg?itok=-TStT0Zz) **Sarah Lawrence, MS** Sr. Clinical Project Manager, Navitas Clinical Research, Inc. --- ![Ignacio Mata headst](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Ignacio_Mata.jpg?itok=Gr0URFsj) **Ignacio Mata, PhD** Assistant Professor/Staff at Cleveland Clinic --- ![Niccolo Mencacci headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Niccolo_Mencacci.jpg?itok=KCfd5vI1) **Niccolo Mencacci, MD, PhD** Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine --- ![Martha Nance headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Martha_Nance.jpg?itok=o94Ap5EK) **Martha Nance, MD** Medical Director at Park Nicollet Struthers Parkinson’s Center and Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota --- ![John Poma headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/John_Poma.jpg?itok=g6Q7nECp) **John Poma, JD** Chief Legal Counsel for Tidewater Physicians Multispecialty Group --- ![Ruth Schneider headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Ruth_Schneider.jpg?itok=AJ0Xh1FJ) **Ruth Schneider, MD** Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester --- ![Michael Schwarzschild headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/380x361/public/images/Michael_Schwarzschild.jpg?itok=y9PGDw0H) **Michael A. Schwarzschild, MD, PhD** Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Director of Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Parkinson Study Group --- ### Past Members of the Steering Committee - **Cynthia J. Casaceli, MBA**, Director of the Clinical Trials Coordination Center at University of Rochester (ex officio) - **Anne Hall, JD**, Parkinson’s Foundation Research Advocate, Member of FDA Patient Engagement Collaborative, Research Stakeholder, University of California, San Francisco, Member of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Genetic Testing in Parkinson’s Disease - **Karen S. Marder, MD, MPH**, Sally Kerlin Professor of Neurology and Chief of the Division of Aging and Dementia at Columbia University Irving Medical Center - **Tanya Simuni, MD**, Chief of the Division of Movement Disorders and Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr., Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine - **Anne-Marie A. Wills, MD, MPH**, Neurologist and Director of the CurePSP Center of Care at Massachusetts General Hospital, Co-Director of the Genes and Environment Working Group of the Parkinson Study Group - ### In partnership with Parkinson Study Group - **Michael A. Schwarzschild, MD, PhD**, Chair of the Executive Committee - **Hubert H. Fernandez, MD**, Co-Chair of the Executive Committee and James and Constance Brown Family Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders at Cleveland Clinic - ### In partnership with Indiana University Genetics Core - **Tatiana Foroud, PhD**, Executive Assistant Dean of Research Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine - **Lola Cook, MS, CGC**, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN - **Laura Heathers**, Project Manager, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN - **Priscila D. Hodges, MS, CGC**, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN - **Valentina Celeste Caceres**, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN - **Michelle Totten**, Clinical Research Leader, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN - **Jennifer Verbrugge, MS, CGC**, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN **Ex Officio** - **Jeanine Schulze, MS, CGC**, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN ### Clinical Sites - PSG: Parkinson Study Group - Parkinson’s Foundation Centers of Excellence and Comprehensive Care Centers - BLAAC PD - LARGE PD - Select Neurology Clinics and Hospitals **Genetic Testing** - Fulgent Genetics - AiLife Diagnostics **Genetic Counseling** Indiana University School of Medicine **CRO** Navitas Clinical Research **Data Storage** Parkinson’s Foundation ### Learn more about our exciting genetics study Genetics can be a powerful tool used to help us better understand Parkinson's. [LEARN MORE](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration) ### Morehouse Healthcare PD GENEration has partnered with [Morehouse Healthcare](https://www.parkinson.org/blog/research/morehouse-school-medicine) to expand genetic research in the Black community. Morehouse Healthcare is the first historically Black institution of medicine to become a PD GENEration research site. PD GENEration is designed to be inclusive and accessible to populations of focus — groups needing increased access to care, resources and research efforts. ## PD GENE Latino Advisory Committee The PD GENE Latino Advisory Committee, comprised of healthcare professionals, researchers, community members and people with PD, works with the Parkinson’s Foundation to develop strategies to increase clinical research education, awareness and participation among Hispanics and Latinos with Parkinson’s throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. The committee focuses on Parkinson’s Foundation studies, including PD GENEration, the Parkinson's Foundation landmark study to accelerate treatments through offering genetic testing and counseling at no cost to people with Parkinson's. This unique initiative aims to increase participation by 10%. To date, the PD GENE Latino Advisory Committee has helped the Foundation: - Develop educational materials and organize outreach events specific to the Hispanic community living with PD. - Disseminate lessons learned and measures of success in engaging the Hispanic community through scientific publications. - Survey the Hispanic community to further understand their needs and gaps in care. - Expand PD GENEration for the first time outside the continental U.S. and into the Caribbean. - ### Members **Ignacio Mata, PhD (Principal Investigator)** *Investigator at the Institute for Genomic Medicine, Cleveland Clinic and Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) of Case Western Reserve* **Priscila Delgado Hodges, MS, CGC** *Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor, Indiana University School of Medicine* **Adriana Gonzalez, MSW, LCSW** *Social Worker, University of California San Diego* **Ruby Rendon** *Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center - Barrow Neurological Institute & PD GENEration Coordinator* **Rossy Cruz Vicioso, MD** *Neurologist, Internist, Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Specialist, Cardio-Neuro-Ophthalmological and Transplant Center (CECANOT), CEDIMAT, Neurotraining; Clínica Unión Médica del Norte, Dominican Republic* **Adriana Jiménez** *Program Director Promotores Embajadores de Parkinson/CEO Give for a Smile* **Henry Moore, MD** *Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Division of Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders, University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine* **Camila Gadala-Maria** *Associate Director, Professional Education, Parkinson’s Foundation* **Rebeca De Leon** *Senior Manager, Clinical Research, Parkinson’s Foundation* **Anny Coral-Zambrano** *PD GENE Research, Parkinson’s Foundation* **Juan Ramirez-Castaneda, MD** *Associate Professor of Neurology, Division Chief of Movement Disorders, Director Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Program, UT Health San Antonio* **Jennifer Fearday** *Community Engagement Manager, Parkinson’s Foundation* **Paulina Gonzalez-Latapi MD, MSc** *Instructor of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Center* **Karylane Palermo Cruz, MD** *Neurologist, San Juan, PR* **Valentina Caceres, MS, CGC** *Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor Indiana University School of Medicine* **Claudia Martinez, MD** *Hispanic Community Engagement Manager, Davis Phinney Foundation* ## Related Blog Posts ![Alana Kirby headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/500x360/public/images/alana-kirby-blogpreview_0.jpg?h=9105c3fe&itok=hHrP3I1H) Advancing Research ### [ How a Neurologist is Working to Solve the Problem of Apathy in PD ](/blog/research/apathy) READ NOW ![Wendy and Jamie, Parkinson's Champions run for their Mom](/sites/default/files/styles/500x360/public/images/MovingTowardCure-Wendy_Jamie.jpg?h=5193ff8a&itok=cksf2Lnt) Raise Awareness ### [ Meet the People Who Are Moving Us Toward a Cure ](/blog/awareness/moving-toward-cure) READ NOW ![microscope](/sites/default/files/styles/500x360/public/images/researchadvocates-blog.jpg?h=0929418c&itok=XrrrSAOl) Advancing Research ### [ Parkinson’s Foundation Research Advocates Influence Parkinson’s Funding ](/blog/research/advocates-funding) READ NOW ### Share Your Experience Did you participate in PD GENEration, our international genetics research study? 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