btn-iconSearch btn-iconContact Donate

Solving the Parkinson’s Puzzle with Associate Professor Kishore Kumar

Tuesday, 21st April 2026

Over 200,000 Australians are currently living with Parkinson’s disease, with a further 38 diagnosed every day. It’s the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world, and there is still no cure. In our ‘Solving the Parkinson’s Puzzle’ series, we speak to leading Australian researchers to find out how their work is helping to slow, stop and ultimately cure Parkinson’s disease.

Part of this work is to study conditions that share some aspects of Parkinson’s disease but have additional symptoms that may progress faster. We spoke with Associate Professor Kishore Kumar, from the ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney Local Health District and University of Sydney, about the AusPD Plus study. This research project aims to recruit 500 new participants with Parkinson’s Plus syndromes, to create a large genetic dataset in Australia that will provide in-depth and diverse insights.

Can you explain what the term ‘Parkinson’s Plus’ means?

“Parkinson’s Plus syndromes” (also called atypical parkinsonism) are a group of rare, progressive neurological conditions that share some movement symptoms with Parkinson’s disease—such as tremor, stiffness, and slowness—but have additional features and typically progress more rapidly. These conditions include:

  • Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
  • Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD)
  • Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
  • Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)

People with Parkinson’s Plus often experience early balance problems, falls, speech or swallowing difficulties, and thinking or memory changes. They also tend to respond less well to standard Parkinson’s medications.

These disorders are challenging to diagnose and manage, which is why dedicated research programs like AusPD Plus are so important.

What will the AusPD Plus study involve?

The AusPD Plus Study is a major national extension of the existing Monogenic Parkinson’s Disease Australia (MonoPDAus) program and the results will be integrated into the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS). It will recruit 500 people living with Parkinson’s Plus syndromes from across Australia.

The study will include:

  • In‑person, detailed clinical assessments to deeply characterise symptoms and progression
  • Collection of additional biomarkers, including fibroblasts and RNA samples.
  • Genetic testing through the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2), with results returned to participants
  • Direct recruitment through major centres including Concord Hospital, Westmead Hospital, and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, as well as all existing MonoPDAus sites across mainland Australia

How will this study represent populations across Australia?

AusPD Plus will be one of the largest national Parkinson’s Plus studies ever conducted in Australia. We are recruiting from major metropolitan movement disorder centres to ensure that the genetic and clinical data reflect the true diversity of Australians affected by Parkinson’s Plus syndromes.

What do you hope this study will achieve?

AusPD Plus will provide the most comprehensive view to date of the genetic architecture of Parkinson’s Plus syndromes in Australia.

By combining detailed clinical assessments with advanced genomic analysis through GP2, the study aims to:

  • Improve diagnostic accuracy
  • Identify genetic contributors to Parkinson’s Plus
  • Build a long‑term national dataset to accelerate discovery
  • Support the development of new, targeted treatments

This work directly builds on the success of MonoPDAus, which has already identified clinically relevant genetic variants in participants.

What is the expected impact for people living with Parkinson’s Plus syndromes?

For participants, the study will provide:

  • Access to research‑grade genetic testing, with results returned
  • A clearer understanding of the possible causes of their condition
  • Potential eligibility for future gene‑based clinical trials
  • The opportunity to contribute to a national resource that will shape care and research for years to come

For the broader community, AusPD Plus will create an enduring dataset that supports discovery, improves diagnosis, and accelerates the development of new therapies. This is exactly the kind of catalytic, high‑impact research that the Shake It Up Foundation has championed across Australia.

Your support this Parkinson’s Awareness Month can help us fund research studies just like this one, which are making groundbreaking discoveries to slow, stop and cure Parkinson’s disease. By making a donation during April, you become part of a global community joining forces to change the future for people with Parkinson’s.