The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is headed to Barcelona, Spain for the sixth World Parkinson Congress (WPC) event. WPC brings together people and families living with Parkinson’s, physicians, advocates and researchers from around the world to share the latest on research and care. There are many opportunities to meet MJFF staff and other Parkinson’s organizations throughout WPC, which runs from July 4 through 7.

MJFF Booth 
Visit us at Booth 803 in the Main Exhibit Hall (Hall Number: 2-3-4-5-7) throughout WPC and meet our MJFF staff. Each day, we will hold an "Ask the Expert" session featuring world-renowned Parkinson’s research experts, including clinician-researchers and patient advocates. Stop by our booth to ask your questions.

Ask the Expert Session at MJFF’s Booth

• Wednesday, July 5
  • 1 – 2 p.m. Join MJFF-funded researchers Nabila Dahodwala, MD, professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and Malu Tansey, PhD, professor of neuroscience at the University of Florida (Speaker has English and Spanish fluency)
  • 4 – 5 p.m. Learn more about the Foundation’s landmark brain health study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) and join Eduardo Tolosa, MD, PhD, director of Parkinson’s disease research at the University of Barcelona. (Speaker has English and Spanish fluency)
• Thursday, July 6
  • 1 – 2 p.m. Meet The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Patient Council members to learn more about their lived experience with the disease and ways they are navigating the Parkinson’s journey. (Speakers will have English and Spanish fluency)
• Friday, July 7
  • 1 – 2 p.m. Bring your questions and meet Dr. Rachel Dolhun, neurology and lifestyle medicine physician specializing in movement disorders and senior vice president of medical communications at The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Clinical Research Village

In the Main Event Hall, you'll find the Clinical Research Village, where you can learn about the ins and outs of participating in clinical trials. The Clinical Research Village will feature several panels each day, with a mix of trial volunteers, researchers and site coordinators. 

Scientific Program

MJFF staff and funded investigators are featured throughout the WPC Program. Highlights follow:

• Wednesday, July 5, 8 - 9 a.m., Hot Topics Talk 4. “Characterizing the frequency of clinically reportable variants in major genes established in Parkinson’s disease (PD) in a large American cohort” presented by Dr. Roy Alcalay, chief of the Movement Disorders Division at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel
• Wednesday, July 5, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Poster Session 1 P22.05. “Lifestyle medicine for Parkinson’s disease: Diet as a treatment tool” presented by Rachel Dolhun, MD, neurology and lifestyle medicine physician specializing in movement disorders and senior vice president of medical communications at The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
• Wednesday, July 5, 12 – 1:15 p.m., James Parkinson Special Lectures. “Why we care about the Parkinson’s disease prodrome: from curious observations to therapeutic opportunities” presented by Eduardo Tolosa, MD, PhD, director of Parkinson’s disease research at the University of Barcelona.
• Wednesday, July 5, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Parallel Sessions Talk 1. “Bringing the immune system to Parkinson´s disease” presented by Malu Tansey, PhD, professor of neuroscience at the University of Florida
• Thursday, July 6, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Morning Plenary Talk 1. “Why should we track Parkinson’s disease?” presented by Bastiaan R. Bloem, consultant neurologist in the department of neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 
• Thursday, July 6, 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Clinical Research Village. “Challenges, Considerations & Opportunities of Undertaking Research in Africa” moderated by MJFF's Director of Clinical Research J Solle. 
• Thursday, July 6, 1:30 – 3 p.m., Roundtables Table 1. “Tips for building a Parkinson’s Movement,” presented by MJFF Patient Council member and PD Avengers co-founder Larry Gifford.
• Thursday, July 6, 1:30 – 3 p.m., Roundtables Table 2 (en Español). “Lo que toda mujer con Parkinsons debería saber,” presentada por Maria de Leon, miembro del Consejo de Pacientes de MJFF.
• Thursday, July 6, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Parallel Sessions TCP2. “The role of genetics and genetic testing in PD” moderated by Andrew Singleton, PhD, NIH distinguished investigator and Director of the Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias. 
• Thursday, July 6, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Roundtables Table 2. “Women and Parkinson’s” presented by MJFF Patient Council member Soania Mathur and Indu Subramanian, MD, neurologist at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, director of the Department of Veterans Affairs South West PADRECC (Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Care Center).
• Thursday, July 6, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Roundtables Table 11. “Assaying misfolded synuclein in tissue biopsies for the diagnosing of PD” presented by Brit Mollenhauer, MD, is a physician-scientist and Professor at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG).
• Friday, July 7, 8 – 9 a.m., Roundtables Table 11. “Comprehensive survey data set of women with Parkinson’s by women with Parkinson’s” presented by MJFF Patient Council member and PD Avengers co-founder Soania Mathur.
• Friday, July 7, 1:30 – 3 p.m., Roundtables Table 7. “Prodromal Parkinson’s: What do we need to do in order to use this” presented by Lana Chahine, associate professor of neurology at the University of Pittsburgh.

An Evening of Networking and Tapas — Register Today

The Michael. J Fox Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s will be hosting an evening of networking, cocktails and tapas on Wednesday, July 5th from 19:00 – 21:00 at the AC Hotel by Marriott Barcelona Forum. We can’t wait to meet you! To register for this free event please click here: Partnering to Accelerate Research | Parkinson's Disease (michaeljfox.org)

Ready to join us and the worldwide Parkinson’s community at WPC? Stay tuned to our channels for updates as the Foundation shares behind-the-scenes throughout the event. We can’t wait to see you in Barcelona where we will welcome new and old friends. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #WPC2023 to be part of the conversation.