Episode 64: The Background of the PDGENEration Initiative

Roy Alcalay is the Alfred and Minnie Bressler Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He obtained his medical degree from Tel Aviv University, Israel, his neurology training from the Harvard University residency program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and his movement disorders training at Columbia University. He earned a Master’s in biostatistics (Patient Oriented Research track) from Columbia University. His research focuses on biomarkers and genetics in Parkinson’s disease. He is the lead investigator of PD GENE, a flagship study funded by the Parkinson's Foundation providing genetic testing and counseling to people with Parkinson’s. His research is supported by the NIH, the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Smart Foundation. He is a member of Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA and the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Anne Hall lives with Parkinson’s disease and is a care partner of her spouse with Parkinson’s. Ms. Hall has been trained as a PF Research Advocate, is a member of the Parkinson’s Working Group, serves on FDA’s Patient Engagement Collaborative, participates in the Movement Disorder Society Task Force on genetics and PD, and is a stakeholder in the University of Colorado PD Patient and Family Advisory Council. Until 2015, Anne was a Senior Executive and Chief Counsel with DHHS. Anne regularly speaks on topics such as patient engagement in clinical trials, genetic testing, palliative care, advance care planning, disability and work, and has co-authored several research papers. Anne is a certified yoga teacher specializing in yoga for PD.