MDS 2021 | An exciting future avenue – the Global Parkinson’s Genetic Program

Enza Maria Valente, MD, PhD, IRCCS Mondino Foundation & University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, updates on an exciting research project aiming to push the boundaries of genetic research in Parkinson’s disease (PD)—the Global Parkinson’s Genetic Program (GP2). The 5-year program aims to genotype over 150,000 volunteers from across the world to improve our understanding of the genetic basis of disease. Genetic diversity, susceptibility, new PD-linked genetic associations and modifiers, and relationships between mutations will all be studied. Investigations will include patients with rare monogenic forms of PD as well as idiopathic PD with multiple underlying genetic factors, high-risk individuals, and healthy volunteers. The project further hopes to tackle gaps in current knowledge by including underrepresented populations. The open project allows the entire global scientific community to access the data and results, helping to expedite progress in this area. This interview took place during the 2021 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders.