Rallying to the Challenge is a meeting designed for and by people with Parkinson’s, advocates and care partners to explore how the Parkinson’s community can impact and accelerate research.

Each year the meeting takes an aspect of Parkinson’s research and discusses how people living with the condition can support and influence work in this area.

This year the theme for the meeting was ‘GBA1 and LRRK2 – From Genetic Risk to the Clinic’ and mirrored the theme of Van Andel Institute’s ‘Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease’, running alongside.

Please note that due to the pandemic, the Rallying to the Challenge 2021 meeting was held virtually:

Details

Date
7 & 8 October 2021
Cost
No charge
Type
Cure Parkinson’s Event
This event was recorded and is available to watch now

If you did not manage to join the Rallying to the Challenge meetings, or could not attend for the whole event, the recordings are now available to watch

Date and time
Thurs. 7 October
9.00am EDT
2.00pm BST
Welcome and opening comments
Shaun Hindley, Team Spark
9.05am EDT
2.05pm BST
From genetic risk to the clinic – or, from peas to pills
Dr Kevin McFarthing
Where can patient involvement really add value?
Dr Soania Mathur, PD Avengers
Discussion – Where can you help on the journey?
9.45am EDT
2.45pm BST
Data collection: concerns and opportunities: survey findings
Dr Leah Mursaleen (recap)
9.55am EDT
2.55pm BST
‘Stretch and Move’ – with thanks to the Davis Phinney Foundation
10.05am EDT
3.05pm BST
What are LRRK2 and GBA Parkinson’s: An overview
Dr Laurie Sanders
10.25am EDT
3.25pm BST
A personal story: Carrying LRRK2, my research involvement journey
Jessi Keavney, PD Avenger
10.55am EDT
3.55pm BST
‘Stretch and Move’ – with thanks to the Davis Phinney Foundation
11.10am EDT
4.10pm BST
The value of LRRK2 and GBA research: why are they important therapeutic
targets? What is the potential benefit to the broader Parkinson’s community?
Dr Simon Stott, Cure Parkinson’s
11.30am EDT
4.30pm BST
The pipeline of genetic clinical trials
Dr Richard Wyse, Cure Parkinson’s
11.55am EDT
4.55pm BST
Live Q&A
Date and time
Friday 8 October
9.00am EDT
2.00pm BST
Welcome and opening comments
Shaun Hindley, Team Spark
9.05am EDT
2.05pm BST
Drug discovery for genetic forms of Parkinson’s in clinical trials **
Marc Van Grieken (Dundee Research Interest Group) interviews Dario Alessi, Miratul Muquit and Esther Sammler
10.05am EDT
3.05pm BST
‘Stretch and Move’ – with thanks to the Davis Phinney Foundation
10.25am EDT
3.25pm BST
The Need for a YOPD genetic registry and the efforts to create one
Gaynor Edwards, Spotlight YOPD
10.35am EDT
3.35pm BST
Clinical Trials and Research, where does Africa fit in?
Omotola Thomas, Founder Parkinson’s Africa with Rachel Agwu,
Parkinson’s Africa, based in Nigeria with Dr Mie Rizig UCL London
11.10am EDT
4.10pm BST
Q&A: Your questions answered
Professor Patrik Brundin, Dr Camille Carroll, Dr Simon Stott, Marc van
Grieken
11.30am EDT
4.30pm BST
11.20am EDT
4.20pm BST
PD Avengers:
Larry Gifford highlights the impact to date and activities and where
future support is needed

** Key Facts and Supplementary Information – Drug discovery for genetic forms of Parkinson’s in clinical trials

Below is a transcript from Marc Van Grieken’s interview with Professor Dario Alessi, Professor Miratul Muquit and Dr Esther Sammler.

Join the conversation

Rallying to the Challenge will be held virtually again in 2021, offering a unique opportunity to get involved from wherever you are. Join the Rallying Facebook Group ahead of our virtual meeting and post your comments and questions; we’ll do our best to answer as many as possible.

Join the Rallying Facebook Group

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