Cure Parkinson’s and Van Andel Institute (VAI) host the annual Rallying to the Challenge event, a meeting designed for and by people with Parkinson’s, advocates and care partners that explores how the Parkinson’s community can impact and accelerate research.

The theme for 2020 was ‘When and how does Parkinson’s begin?’ The meeting included stimulating discussions such as ‘What are the genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s?’ with advocate Ben Stecher and Dr Ziv Gan-Or; ‘Viruses and Parkinson’s’ with Dr David Beckham (Assoc. Professor University of Colorado) and Chris Maycock; ‘What role might the gut play in Parkinson’s?’ with Dietician Richelle Flanagan and Per Borghammer (Assoc. Professor, Aarhus University Hospital) and expert insights from Professor Tom Foltynie and Dr Dilan Athauda during their discussion on ‘Does insulin resistance/type 2 Diabetes make a difference?’ If you were unable to attend the meeting, the live recordings of both days are available to view below.

Day 1

Agenda

4:07 – Team Spark: When and how does Parkinson’s start- the lived experience?

26:20 – When and how does Parkinson’s start: an overview: Dr Simon Stott

1:01.50 – What are the genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s? Ben Stecher with Dr Ziv Gan Or

2:02.40 – Environmental factors and Parkinson’s: Dr Alison Bernstein

2:28:25 – Viruses and Parkinson’s: Dr David Beckham with Chris Maycock

2:55:12 – Live Q&A panel: Gary Rafaloff, Drs Soania Mathur, Cornelis Blauwendraat, Patrik Brundin and Camille Carroll

3:25:50 – iLCT Studies – The journey towards personalised Parkinson’s therapeutics: Dr Richard Wyse

3:57:07 – Closing remarks: Shaun Hindley, Team Spark and Helen Matthews

Day 2

Agenda

1:50 – In memory of Dr Viviane Labrie (Dr Patrick Brundin).

What role might the gut play in Parkinson’s: Richelle Flanaghan with Drs Viviane Labrie and Per Borghammer

Read more here

1:07.40 – Does insulin resistance/diabetes make a difference? Rachel Gibson with Drs Tom Foltynie and Dilan Athauda

1:32:50 – Live Q&A panel: Kevin Mcfarthing, Richelle Flanaghan, Drs Wouter Peelarts and Per Borghammer

2:05:10 – From anecdotes to answers: How to turn the patient experience into useful data: Dr Laurie Mischley

2:27:27 – PD Avengers: Larry Gifford. Tim Hague, Matt Eagles, Sally Brompton, Hugh Johnson, Gary Shaunessy, Jayne Calder and Omotola Thomas

3:26:35 – Live Q&A panel: Drs Patrik Brundin Carlie Tanner and Soania Mathur

3:34:13 – Presentation of the Tom Isaacs Award by Dr Patrik Brundin and Lyndsey Isaacs

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