Professional Education

APDA provides sponsorship support for select professional education opportunities to foster and encourage the sharing of ideas, knowledge and possibilities among PD professionals.

APDA is proud to support the following program:


Society for Neuroscience annual meeting
Neuroscience of Movement Disorders course

October 18, 2019
Chicago, IL

APDA is proud to help sponsor Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, a one-day educational course designed for basic science researchers in the field of neuroscience to learn about Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD research. The course is organized by Dr. David Standaert, Chairman of APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board, along with Dr. Talene Yacoubian, an APDA-funded researcher, under the auspices of the Movement Disorders Society (MDS) and will be held on October 18, 2019, in Chicago, IL. This course, Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, will take place one day before the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting where thousands of neuroscientists gather to learn and share the latest information in their field. The overarching goal of this important course is to introduce this audience, which has great sophistication in neuroscience, to the principles, basic knowledge and unanswered questions that are important to the field of Movement Disorders. Ultimately, by helping them gain a deeper understanding of symptoms and underlying mechanisms, it will help to inspire additional scientists to enter the field of PD research and to inform their research questions and methodologies.

APDA is thrilled to be part of the effort to teach researchers about PD and to encourage additional PD research initiatives.


APDA is proud to have supported the following past programs:


Parkinson’s Disease Gordon Research Conference
Pathogenesis, Pathophysiology and Experimental Therapeutics in Parkinson’s Disease
June 23 – 28, 2019
Newry, Maine

APDA is proud to help sponsor the 2019 Parkinson’s Disease Gordon Research Conference. This unique conference provides an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research, encouraging communication and discussion of ideas and new unpublished results amongst a range of scientists from a variety of fields.

The field of Parkinson’s disease research has matured tremendously over the last 20 years, in large part much of this progress has been driven by genetic and molecular insights into disease etiology and pathogenesis. This conference aims to bring together scientists interested in understanding the underlying disease processes with an eye toward effecting the development and deployment of etiologic-based therapeutics.


World Parkinson Congress
 5th World Parkinson Congress

June 4-7, 2019
Kyoto, Japan

APDA was a Bronze Sponsor of the 5th World Parkinson Congress where more than 3,000 people from 60+ countries attended. Attendee’s were those dedicated to understanding, researching, treating, and curing Parkinson’s disease (PD), including those who are living with it. As medical advances continue to accelerate, the goal of the WPC is to advance an all-encompassing approach to the treatment of Parkinson’s by bringing together the full spectrum of those who serve the Parkinson’s community and those who live with PD.


American Parkinson Disease Association’s
Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Conference

Friday, May 17, 2019
Elizabeth, NJ

APDA hosted a thought-provoking conference to address the unique and urgent needs surrounding Parkinson’s disease (PD) in diverse and under-served communities.

This project was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EAIN-13547).


Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
The Krembil Knowledge Gaps in Parkinson’s Disease Symposium: Revision vs. Reconstruction

April 24-26, 2019
Toronto, Canada

APDA is supporting the Krembil Knowledge Gaps in Parkinson’s Disease Symposium: Revision vs. Reconstruction taking place in Toronto, April 24-26, 2019. The symposium will bring together leading researchers from across the globe to discuss how to best approach the increase of PD diagnoses as the population ages and lives longer.

The number of people diagnosed with PD is anticipated to rise by more than 50% by the year 2030, as our population ages and life expectancy increases.  Most importantly, PD continues to have a major impact on individuals with the disease and their families. The current treatments for PD only alleviate some symptoms but do not prevent progression of the underlying neurodegeneration. Leading researchers in neurodegenerative disease from around the world will come together at this symposium to continue our relentless pursuit to find a cure.


The First Annual Tremor Conference
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University

May 11-12, 2018
New York, NY

APDA supported the First Annual Tremor Conference, which took place on May 11-12, 2018 in New York City. Researchers from around the world gathered at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center for the first of its kind conference dedicated to the physiology, diagnosis and management of tremor.


Society for Neuroscience annual meeting
Neuroscience of Movement Disorders course

November 2, 2018
San Diego, CA

APDA is proud to help sponsor Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, a one-day educational course designed for basic science researchers in the field of neuroscience to learn about Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD research. The course is organized by Dr. David Standaert, Chairman of APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board, along with Dr. Talene Yacoubian, an APDA-funded researcher, under the auspices of the Movement Disorders Society (MDS) and will be held on Nov 2, 2018, in San Diego, CA. This course, Neuroscience of Movement Disorders, will take place one day before the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting where thousands of neuroscientists gather to learn and share the latest information in their field. The overarching goal of this important course is to introduce this audience, which has great sophistication in neuroscience, to the principles, basic knowledge and unanswered questions that are important to the field of Movement Disorders. Ultimately, by helping them gain a deeper understanding of symptoms and underlying mechanisms, it will help to inspire additional scientists to enter the field of PD research and to inform their research questions and methodologies.

APDA is thrilled to be part of the effort to teach researchers about PD and to encourage additional PD research initiatives.