Neurons, the cells that carry information in our brain and nervous system, have puzzled researchers for decades. Depending on their location and role in the body, neurons can vary wildly in shape and activity, with some stretching up to three feet long. Their size and structure also create challenges for neurons to stay healthy and functional. 

The dopamine-producing neurons in the brain progressively lost in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are no exception. How the disease may impact the cells’ critical maintenance is still not well understood.

Inés Patop, PhD, recipient of a Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, is using new biological tools to improve our understanding of not just how PD may affect neuronal upkeep, but specifically where it is most damaging within the cell and how we can use that knowledge to design more efficient therapies.  

“There are certain cells in the brain that deteriorate with time,” said Dr. Patop. “These cells have certain vulnerabilities that make them more sensitive to Parkinson’s disease. My work studies these vulnerabilities and why these cells degenerate, with a focus on mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell that becomes defective in Parkinson’s and how we can find new therapies to avoid the degeneration of these neurons.”

Parkinson’s disease has been associated with mitochondria misfunction for more than 30 years, and several PD-associated genetic mutations are involved in the process of clearing defective mitochondria. 

The challenge is that the blueprints needed to maintain, repair and remove damaged mitochondria come from the nucleus in the soma. To maintain the mitochondria in the neurites (see box), the neuron needs to print and transport those blueprints (called RNA) across the cell. That process requires coordination, which is likely disrupted in neurons affected by PD-associated mutations.  

Think of individual mitochondria as power plants located in different parts of a large city. Each power plant operates on its own but needs to receive materials to function; if the materials don’t arrive, there are failures. Therefore, power plants that are far away from the distribution center (the cell’s soma) are more prone to failure.

The process of generating the necessary materials for a power plant to function, by combining its own materials with materials from the distribution center (the soma’s nucleus), is called "mito-nuclear balance.” When this balance is disrupted, cellular stress occurs. Parkinson’s disease is associated with the failure of various processes that ensure correct mito-nuclear balance.

From the lab of Dr. Stirling Churchman at Harvard University in Boston, MA, Dr. Patop:

• Utilizes special growing chambers that will allow them to isolate and study the soma and neurites of neurons individually. 

• Then run complex biochemical tests to see how RNA printing and transport, mitochondria repair and more differ between the distinct cell regions, and how each is affected by PD mutations. 

From this data, Dr. Patop hopes to better understand how PD may affect neurons differently from soma to dendrites, potentially leading to new future treatments that target the most impacted regions of the cells.

“My work focuses on understanding basic biology about the neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Patop. “Through this research, we expect to identify new regulatory mechanisms implicated in PD, potentially identifying novel drug targets for treatment.”

“The impact of this research could significantly advance our understanding of PD and pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.” - Dr. Patop

Dr. Patop said this award has not only help fund their research but has connected them with a community of scientists who are also focused on Parkinson’s disease, as well as people with PD and their families, which has been very impactful. They are grateful to the Parkinson’s Foundation for investing in basic research. 

“Without basic research like this, new treatments would not be possible” said Dr. Patop. “I think we are just at the moment where things are coming through, so if we continue on this path and support this type of research, we are going to see really great advances in the prognosis of Parkinson’s disease.”

Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our My PD Stories featuring PD researchers.

On July 7, 2016, two leading Parkinson’s organizations — the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF), both founded in 1957 — united to form the Parkinson’s Foundation. Together, they built on nearly 60 years of shared commitment to people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Through 10 years of progress the Parkinson’s Foundation has transformed lives by raising the standard of PD care, advancing groundbreaking research and empowering people with PD and their families at every stage of the journey. Today, with offices in New York City, Miami and Washington, D.C., the growing non-profit continues to drive progress toward better treatments — and ultimately, a cure.

“While we’re excited for the work ahead, our first 10 years as the Parkinson’s Foundation have shown what is possible through collaboration, innovation and the unwavering dedication of our community. I am excited and hopeful that, through our evolving research and care initiatives, the next 10 years will bring transformative breakthroughs.” 

— John Lehr, Parkinson’s Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer

Here are some of the major milestones we’ve achieved in the last 10 years: 

1. Increased annual revenue from $22 million to more than $80 million.

This amazing growth reflects the rising impact of Parkinson’s disease and the generosity of a growing community determined to make an impact. Increased funding has allowed us to expand groundbreaking research, improve care initiatives, raise awareness and launch innovative educational resources and programs designed to meet the evolving needs of the PD community. 

2. Launched a first-of-its-kind international genetics study. 

In 2019, we launched PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation. Since then, the genetics study has empowered participants with genetic insights that can help them understand their disease better while accelerating clinical trial development for new treatments. 

In just six years, PD GENEration has: 

• Enrolled more than 35,000 participants around the world, providing genetic testing and counseling at no cost.
• Designed and introduced an at-home genetic test to reach people in rural areas.
• Hosted international educational events focused on Parkinson’s and genetics.
• Shared study findings with the global research community to accelerate scientific discovery.  

Learn More & Enroll

3. Invested millions in research grants to fuel scientific discovery.

At a time when federal funding for disease research is being challenged, we have accelerated research funding over the last decade, investing more than $180 million in research for a total investment of $513.5 million since the Foundation’s inception.

We are funding more scientists than ever before. From 1957 through 2016, the Foundation supported 400 scientists. In the last 10 years, we have funded 375 more, greatly accelerating our pace of funding. Every year, Foundation-funded research drives innovation in areas such as the development of new therapies, earlier PD detection, how to leverage AI, and ultimately, a cure. Meet our researchers.

Paolo Moretti, MD

2025 Trailblazer Award 

Scanning Family Trees for Hidden Parkinson's Risk Factors 

READ MORE

Catherine (Chi) Weindel, PhD

2019 Postdoctoral Fellowship
2022 Launch Award

Investigating the Link Between Parkinson’s, Genetics and the Immune System

READ MORE

Hikaru Kamo, MD, PhD

2025 Melvin Yahr Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Research Award

Improving Deep Brain Stimulation Using Artificial Intelligence

READ MORE

4. Supported local PD communities through more than 879 health and wellness programs. 

Our Community Grants support local, life-enhancing Parkinson’s programs across the U.S. — from dance and boxing classes to support groups. These programs encourage community while improving physical and mental well-being for participants. In 2025, we funded 92 local PD programs across 38 states, reaching more than 11,000 people with PD.

Additionally, we strengthened our chapter network to connect people with Parkinson’s and caregivers to local resources, support groups, classes and educational programs — while hosting local events like Moving Day.

Find Your Chapter

5. Launched policy and advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels. 

We formally entered the policy arena — advancing advocacy efforts that protect Parkinson’s research and access to care at the federal and state levels. Our policy priorities aim to: 

• Increase research support toward better treatments and a cure
• Strengthen care systems
• Expand access to high-quality education tools and resources
• Promote prevention strategies, including efforts to reduce exposure to environmental threats tied to Parkinson’s

Take action now using our newly launched Advocacy Center. 

6. Updated the Go-To Source of Information on PD: Parkinson.org 

With more than 8 million visitors in 2025, Parkinson.org is the go-to resource for the PD community, helping connect people to the information they need. New features include: 

• Online courses for everyone in the PD community, including healthcare providers on our Learning Lab.
• More than 90 Spanish webpages, blog articles and a dedicated Spanish PD Library. 
• Visitors can choose their own accessibility features. 
• Launch of PAM, our AI chat tool, that provides evidence-based answers about Parkinson’s — anytime, anywhere.

In 10 years, the Foundation has provided a non-stop tranche of resources in our PD Library, including our Newly Diagnosed Guide, new Parkinson’s Today blog articles and podcast episodes. In response to COVID, we also launched PD Health @ Home — a virtual series that continues to provide new webinars, mindfulness and exercises programs every month. 

7. Driving new treatments through a joint drug discovery initiative. 

In 2022, the Parkinson’s Foundation entered into a partnership with Parkinson’s UK to power Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, a global initiative accelerating PD drug discovery and development. In 2025, two new drugs advanced into clinical trials — clear evidence that early investment sparks innovation and reduces the risk of funding for future investors, while speeding up the development of new Parkinson’s therapies. Learn more.

8. Expanded the Global Care Network to reach more people.  

In the last 10 years, around 900,000 people have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the U.S. This is why we are committed to empowering people with PD to find expert care. To meet this need, we expanded our Global Care Network to connect more people with expert care. 

We have gone from providing care to 145,000 people with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders across 45 centers in 2016 to treating 364,739 people across 62 centers in 2026. 

We have added a new center designation — Comprehensive Care Centers — that feature a specialized team expert in Parkinson’s treatments — and Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care, a membership program for senior living communities and home health care agencies trained in PD care.

Find a designated Parkinson’s center near you. 

9. Making Hospitals Safer for people with Parkinson’s

One in 6 people with Parkinson’s will experience avoidable complications in the hospital. This is why we launched the Hospital Care Initiative to improve hospital care for people with Parkinson’s through nationwide, systemic changes. We also created the Hospital Safety Guide to help people advocate for their best care when in the hospital.   

10. Offering unwavering, continued support through our Helpline in English and Spanish.

Our Helpline connects people with Parkinson’s, caregivers, families and healthcare professionals to key PD information and tailored resources. 

Contact our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) and Helpline@Parkinson.org.

11. Appointed our first Chief Medical Officer. 

We appointed Sneha Mantri, MD, MS, as our first-ever Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Mantri, a Movement Disorder Specialist from Duke University Medical Center, provides medical and clinical care leadership across our care initiatives, helping ensure our programs meet the needs of people with Parkinson’s. Her leadership allows us to elevate important topics she’s seen first-hand as a neurologist, including how to address stigma and Parkinson’s. 

12. Building community through local events. 

Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s, continues to unite PD communities across the country, raise awareness and embrace the power of exercise which is proven to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms. In the last 10 years, Moving Day has raised $38.9 million and hosted 410 events nationwide.

Additionally, six years ago we launched our second signature event, Parkinson’s Revolution. This in-person or virtual cycling experience generates awareness and raises funds that advance PD research, resources and better care for people with Parkinson’s.

Thank you to the supporters who make progress possible and fuel the impactful work that moves us forward. In the next 10 years and beyond we will build momentum, together, to find better treatments, and ultimately a cure. Find out how you can help. 

The World Parkinson Congress is an international conference that brings the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community together — from people living with PD and care partners, to healthcare professionals, researchers and organizations working to make life better for people with Parkinson’s. This year, thousands will attend the event dedicated to Parkinson’s research and care in Phoenix, AZ, from May 24 to 27.

Below are the 14 scientific posters the Parkinson’s Foundation is sharing at the seventh World Parkinson Congress:

RESEARCH FINDINGS

These posters focus on how we are making PD research more inclusive and why it is essential to involve people with Parkinson’s in the research process.

SEE ALL RESEARCH POSTERS

1. PD GENEration Sub-Studies: The Next Step to Engaging People with Parkinson’s in Research

PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation is an international research initiative offering at no cost genetic testing and counseling for people living with Parkinson’s. The Parkinson’s Foundation has launched four new sub-studies as an extension to PD GENEration. 

These include:

1. PD GENEration Surveys: polls all PD GENEration participants on topics of interest in the PD community, such as environmental exposures and changes in diagnosis or medications.

2. PD GENEration Family: offers genetic testing and counseling at no cost to parents, siblings or children (all over the age of 40) of eligible PD GENEration participants.

3. PD GENEration Insights: collects expanded clinical data for eligible PD GENEration participants through self-report questionnaires and virtual clinician visits.

4. PD GENEration Explore: collects plasma and administers smell identification tests to PD GENEration participants.

Main takeaways:

• The four new PD GENEration sub-studies offer, for the first time, additional research opportunities to participants, further expanding engagement in research.

• This expanded data collected contributes to the research community and helps researchers further their work to find a cure for PD. 

2. PD Trial Navigator: Personalized Guidance on Clinical Trial Enrollment for People Living with PD 

The Parkinson’s Foundation PD Trial Navigator is a new program designed to help people with Parkinson’s better understand and access clinical trials. It aims to accelerate enrollment in genetic and disease-modifying clinical trials, build a trial-ready community and empower people with Parkinson’s to make informed decisions about participating in research. The program builds on PD GENEration, using surveys and focus groups to understand barriers to research participation. It provides personalized support through one-on-one guidance, educational materials and direct connections to trial opportunities. 

Main takeaways:

• Many people with Parkinson’s are interested in clinical trials but face barriers such as limited awareness, travel challenges and complex eligibility requirements.

• Personalized guidance and education can significantly improve understanding and engagement in clinical research.

• The Parkinson’s Foundation PD Trial Navigator program can help bridge the gap between genetic testing and participation in precision medicine trials.

3. Assessing Provider Performance in Simulated Genetic Counseling Sessions Within the PD GENEration — LARGE-PD study

This poster analyzed PD GENEration-related genetic counseling training delivered by Indiana University genetic counselors to clinicians in the Latin American Research Consortium on the GEnetics of Parkinson’s Disease (LARGE-PD).It reviewed strengths and weaknesses identified during mock genetic counseling sessions by analyzing 46 video feedback forms from two training cycles.

Main takeaways:

• All clinicians who completed video feedback after their first video successfully met competency expectations. 

• These results suggest that structured, iterative training programs can be an effective approach for standardizing and strengthening genetic counseling skills, which are essential for providers returning genetic results to people with Parkinson’s disease.

4. Building Genetic Counseling Capacity in Latin America to Facilitate the Sharing of Genetic Results with PD GENEration Participants — LARGE-PD study

This poster summarized the development and implementation of a genetic counseling training program for clinicians in Latin America participating in the LARGE-PD study. The program prepared clinicians to return genetic test results to people with Parkinson’s through counseling sessions. It evaluates the effectiveness of this training using feedback from mock counseling sessions and certification outcomes.

Main takeaways:

• 46 video feedback forms across two training cycles showed that clinicians improved after structured feedback and successfully met competency expectations.

• 32 clinicians across 12 countries were trained and certified, ensuring access to genetic counseling at every LARGE-PD site.

• Structured, iterative training programs can effectively build local expertise, improving access to genetic information for people with Parkinson’s in Latin America.

  

CARE FINDINGS

These studies focus on how to improve care for people with Parkinson’s. 

SEE ALL CARE POSTERS

5. The National Roundtable on Parkinson’s Care and Innovation: A Multidisciplinary, Multi-Sector Convening Aimed at Addressing the Most Pressing Challenges in Parkinson’s Care

The U.S. faces a growing Parkinson’s care crisis as PD prevalence rises and shortages of trained health professionals limit access to quality care. The National Parkinson’s Project, the first federal legislation dedicated to ending PD, directs the Department of Health and Human Services to advance prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures for Parkinson’s and related disorders. As a national leader in Parkinson’s care and to help guide PD care priorities, we held a National Roundtable on Parkinson’s Care and Innovation on September 4, 2025.

Main takeaways:

• The Roundtable brought together experts across disciplines and industries, including people with PD and care partners. 

• Discussion led to a multiyear roadmap to transform PD care through policy reform and action: Parkinson's Care and Innovation: A Patient-Centered Agenda for Change.

• The agenda outlines four priority solutions to guide the National Parkinson’s Project: building community clinician capability, developing a sustainable and integrated care model, defining a minimum clinical dataset, and prioritizing patient-centered technologies.

Learn more about our Policy Priorities

6. Prioritizing the Improvement of Hospital Care for People with Parkinson’s Disease through the Parkinson’s Foundation Hospital Care Initiative

This poster details how the Parkinson’s Foundation is leading the national effort to improve hospital care for people with Parkinson’s through systemic changes in policy, technology, culture and education. Our Hospital Care Initiative aims to eliminate preventable harm and promote higher reliability in care for people with PD in the hospital.

Main takeaways: 

• The Parkinson’s Foundation is actively working with more than 50 Health Systems to improve care for people with Parkinson’s in their hospitals. 

• We are raising awareness and building partnerships to continue to expand our reach. 

• We are funding and leading research projects to show how negative hospital outcomes can be addressed through specific solutions designed to improve hospital care for people with PD.  

7. Optimizing PD Care: Empowering People with Parkinson’s Before, During and Between Appointments 

Healthcare appointments are critical opportunities for people with Parkinson’s and their healthcare teams to improve quality of life. However, PD appointments can feel overwhelming. People with PD and clinicians report challenges with making the most of their time together. The Optimizing Parkinson’s Care Initiative aims to provide education, training and resources to empower people with PD to become more active partners in their PD care.  

Main takeaways:

• We collaborated with people with PD, care partners, clinicians and health literacy experts to create resources focused on making the most of PD care, through actionable steps taken before, during and between appointments.  

• There is an emphasis on self-reflection, self-education, self-advocacy and understanding that speaking up about lived experience is a trusted and essential part of the appointment.  

• The Optimizing Care webpage and Steps to Prepare for a Parkinson’s Appointment worksheet guide people with PD to select their top three priorities based on what’s most impacting their daily life, what’s most time sensitive, and what matters to most to them.  

8. Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care: A Survey of Current Site Champions of the Program

Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care educates and prepares staff in senior living communities and home care agencies to provide better care for people with Parkinson’s across the U.S. Currently the program serves 97 partners within 27 states. This program has trained more than 30,000 direct care providers. This poster shares outcomes of a recent survey of site champions. Site Champions ensure ongoing required staff training, collect program outcomes on a semi-annual basis and maintain communication and collaboration with Community Partners program staff.

Main takeaways:

• Surveys showed improvements in Parkinson’s care, including better medication accuracy and timeliness, more comprehensive care plans, increased exercise integration and greater staff awareness of effective communication and individualized care needs.

• Limited staffing and time for training were identified as the biggest challenges in ongoing success of the program.

• Survey results will be used for future program modifications and updates.

9. Online Learning Preferences of Healthcare Providers Caring for People with Parkinson’s 

This poster explores how healthcare providers prefer to learn through online continuing education (CE) when caring for people with Parkinson’s. A survey of nearly 5,000 professionals found that most prefer live or recorded webinars lasting one to two hours, especially when content is directly relevant to clinical practice. These findings will help guide the development of more accessible, engaging, and effective educational programs. 

Main takeaways:

• Healthcare providers prefer clinically relevant, interactive and flexible online learning formats — especially live webinars.

• Many providers face barriers such as limited time and financial constraints, and some struggle to complete courses due to workload or technical issues.

  

EDUCATION FINDINGS

These studies focus on trends in the Parkinson’s community and aim to provide information that can empower people in the PD community.

SEE ALL EDUCATION POSTERS

10. Processing a Challenging Hospital Experience: Providing a Tool for People with Parkinson’s to Document a Difficult Stay and Determine Next Steps

After a difficult hospital experience, many people are unsure of next steps. This poster details how the Parkinson’s Foundation, in collaboration with members of the PD community, developed a guide to help people with Parkinson’s and their families document and process their hospital experience. The form includes robust, PD-relevant questions about their hospital stay and provides suggestions for support and preventing future harm.

Main takeaways: 

• The Parkinson’s Foundation offers a questionnaire as a digital form on our website. 

• People with PD and care partners can submit their answers anonymously, share their experiences to help raise awareness, and/or request outreach and resources from the Foundation.  

• Forms can be downloaded, printed and saved for future appointments or hospital stay. 

• Use the form now

11. Empowering Hispanic/Latino Communities Through Research and Education: Expanding Access to Parkinson’s Genetic Studies Across Latin America

Hispanic/Latino communities have historically been underrepresented in Parkinson’s genetic research, limiting diversity and equity in scientific discovery. To address this gap, the Parkinson’s Foundation expanded its PD GENEration initiative in collaboration with LARGE-PD, bringing education, genetic counseling and research opportunities directly to communities across Latin America. Our objective was to increase access to PD genetic research among Hispanic/Latino populations by implementing culturally tailored education and recruitment events across Latin America. 

Main takeaways:

• Between 2024 and 2025, events in Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic reached 700 people and enrolled 240 new participants, increasing representation in PD GENEration. 
• These events integrated genetics education, counseling, and on-site enrollment, led by local clinicians and institutions to build trust and reduce barriers to participation. 
• The initiative strengthened long-term collaborations with local hospitals and clinicians, creating a sustainable and replicable model for community engagement. 
• Ultimately, this work demonstrates that combining culturally relevant education with direct access to research participation can reduce barriers, increase trust, and improve representation in PD genetic research. Expanding these community-driven efforts is essential to advancing more inclusive and equitable Parkinson’s research.

12. Joining Forces: A Collaborative Partnership between the Veterans Health Administration and the Parkinson’s Foundation

There are more than 110,000 veterans living with Parkinson’s in the U.S. Since 2020, the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have partnered to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of veterans living with PD. Together, we create and provide veterans with PD and their loved ones resources. The partnership continues to enhance access to VA care and support veterans living with PD. Explore veterans’ resources.

Main takeaways:

• The Parkinson’s Foundation and VA have:

  • Engaged more than 20,000 veterans with PD and loved ones 

  • Hosted more than 20 webinars for veterans with more than 16,000 registrations 

  • Launched six co-created resources including Parkinson.org/Veterans webpages and Veterans Guide

  • Trained more than 150 VA professionals through the Parkinson’s Foundation Team Training program

13. Parkinson’s Exercise Guidelines: From Outdated to Updated

This project updated exercise guidelines for people with Parkinson’s to reflect the latest research and expert input. A team of specialists reviewed current evidence, identified gaps and revised recommendations to improve clarity, safety, and usability. The updated guidelines were reviewed by international experts and people with Parkinson’s, followed by a public comment period.

Main takeaway:

• Key updates to exercise guidelines emphasize safe exercise practices, referral to physical therapy and tailoring programs based on disease stage and individual needs.

14. HOPE PALS: The power of collaboration at the service of the Spanish-speaking PD community

HOPE PALS (Hispanic Organizational Partners Engaged in Parkinson’s Awareness and Leadership Solutions) is a cross-organizational coalition launched by the Davis Phinney Foundation to strengthen collaboration among Parkinson’s organizations. Coalition partners include the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, LARGE-PD, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson’s and more. Its goal is to improve the experience of Spanish-speaking people and families affected by Parkinson’s by maximizing shared resources, increasing awareness and advancing knowledge exchange across organizations.

Main takeaways:

• Through monthly meetings, organizations have expanded cross-promotion of resources and inspired new collaborative projects.

• Twice a year, the Davis Phinney Foundation Espacio Parkinson webinar invites coalition members to share materials and events, strengthening visibility and access for the Spanish-speaking PD community.

• HOPE PALS demonstrates the power of cross-organizational collaboration to amplify education and support for underserved PD communities. By leveraging digital connections and shared leadership, this coalition has elevated collective impact, enhanced community trust and expanded culturally relevant resources for the international Spanish-speaking Parkinson’s community.

Stay up to date with the latest Parkinson’s Foundation programs, research and happenings in our Parkinson’s Today blog.