Parkinson’s Research Project Title: Australian Parkinson’s Genetic Study (Year 2)

Principal Investigators: Miguel E. Renteria, PhD

Institutions: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Study Rationale:

Researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane are undertaking ground-breaking research to help identify genetic factors influencing risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. This research, named the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS), will contribute towards the largest study of Parkinson’s genetics ever undertaken, the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2). Year 1 of APGS was very successful, with more than 8,000 volunteers with PD and 3,000 volunteers without PD joining the study. The research team’s goal is to recruit 10,000 participants from each group, so Year 2 will continue these recruitment efforts to reach this target. Another important focus of Year 2 is trying to increase the participation of people from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in medical research, particularly encouraging Australians of Asian ancestry to join the study. The team will partner with clinics located in suburbs with a high concentration of residents with Asian heritage in Australia’s major cities. After recruitment, they will proceed to characterise the genomes of all participants and start analysing the data, which aims to identify molecular markers for Parkinson’s disease.