Overview of WPC:  What it is and why it’s an important event

World Parkinson Congress (WPC) is the only meeting that brings together scientists and researchers, people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones, and clinicians and healthcare professionals. But WPC is more than a meeting: it’s an extraordinary educational event where healthcare professionals and researchers have the opportunity to learn from each other as well as from people living with Parkinson’s; and where people living with Parkinson’s have the opportunity to present posters, books, lead talks and sessions, share ideas and advice. WPC is where international collaborations and friendships are forged.

The Barcelona meeting saw teams cycling from the UK, Italy and Spain to attend the conference, and one individual even ran all the way from the UK – an incredible achievement!

During this webinar, chaired by The University of Edinburgh’s Professor Tilo Kunath, our panelists talk about which WPC sessions they found most useful and why they found them so motivating.

Introduction to our panelists:

Richelle Flanaghan – WPC award winner, a dietician and on a personal mission to raise awareness of women living with Parkinson’s. Richelle has ensured that diet is now a key topic at the Congress.

Jodie Forbes – a data scientist and person living with Parkinson’s who’s supporting the Critical Path for Parkinson’s and EJS ACT-PD clinical trials platform. Jodie will highlight the scientific sessions he found of interest.

Dr Marie-Louise Zeissler – based at Newcastle University, Dr Zeissler has led the patient involvement effort that underpins the EJS ACT-PD platform, and also has interest in clinical trial outcomes and disease modifying clinical trials.

Andrew Chai, senior PhD student working with Professor Tilo Kunath – Andrew will share his experiences as an early career researcher at WPC.