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’s theme was ”Cell Vulnerability and Therapies” which mirrors the science symposium Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease at Van Andel Institute (VAI).

Catch up on all of the recordings below.

Day 1 Playlist

Presentations

What do we mean by “Cell Vulnerabilities and Therapeutics?” What will be discussed during Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease and why is it important
Simon Stott, Ph.D. — Cure Parkinson’s

What do cells do in response to protein aggregation? 
Thomas Goralski, M.S. — Henderson Lab, Van Andel Institute

What can go wrong with cells in Parkinson’s 1: Genetics
Vanessa Howland, Ph.D. — Van Andel Institute 

Genetics as a treatment target: an overview of what’s going on
Aleksandra Pilcicka — Cure Parkinson’s

Mitochondrial DNA damage — a biomarker for PD?
Professor Laurie Sanders — Duke University

Mitochondria as a treatment target: An overview of what’s going on
Aleksandra Pilcicka — Cure Parkinson’s

How can we see if a treatment might work in humans? iPSC cell modelling?
Professor Edward Fon — MCgill University

How the MiND Program is contributing to our knowledge about Parkinson’s — Types of biological sampling
Erin Williams, Ph.D. — MiND Program, Van Andel Institute

Day 2 Playlist

Presentations

What is gene therapy?
Dr. Matthias Luz — AskBio

Ask Bio: AAV2 GDNF
Professor Alan Whone — University of Bristol

What is Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson’s?
Roger Barker, MBBS, MRCP, Ph.D. — University of Cambridge

What cell replacement and gene therapy studies are underway? What stage are they at and how do the approaches compare?
Aleksandra Pilcicka — Cure Parkinson’s

Catch up on Rallying to the Challenge 2023

Missed anything from last year? Catch up on all the recordings from Rallying to the Challenge 2023.

Watch now