Funded Studies
GP2 is a resource of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Initiative. It is an ambitious five-year program to genotype >150,000 volunteers around the world to further understand the genetic architecture of Parkinson’s disease (PD). There is still much to learn about genetic risk factors, and the path to further understanding requires working collaboratively and openly sharing data, processes, and results.
Interested in submitting a cohort to GP2?
Principal investigators looking to share information about available data for potential inclusion in the study can complete a short form on the ASAP website.
Interested in participating in genetic research?
People with or without Parkinson's disease can learn more about genetic research and study opportunities on our Ways to Be Involved page.
GP2 Overview
A substantial proportion of risk for Parkinson’s disease is driven by genetics, and genetic links to PD have advanced disease understanding and therapeutic development. But there is still much to learn about Parkinson's genetics. The path to further understanding requires working collaboratively to analyze samples from hundreds of thousands of people representing diverse backgrounds and disease experiences. Progress requires working openly and sharing data, processes, and results.
GP2 will use cutting-edge techniques to analyze data and samples from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the American continent. These efforts will transform understanding of the genetic basis of PD across diverse populations, including those currently underserved in research, thereby addressing a large gap in knowledge of PD. GP2 will also study rare familial forms of PD with detailed gene discovery efforts toward identification of novel disease-causing genes and mutations.
This study will engage existing global consortia and cohorts to expand genetic analysis efforts with samples from hundreds of thousands of people, including those with PD, people at risk of PD, and control volunteers. The resulting data will aim to provide new biological understanding, greater genetic resolution, better disease risk profiles, and data-driven insights into the full spectrum of PD. GP2 will also provide training and resources to a broad, diverse base of scientists and clinicians around the globe.
GP2 is the first resource project from ASAP, who have developed an ambitious roadmap to tackle key scientific challenges in PD by supporting meaningful, multidisciplinary collaboration; generating research-enabling resources; and democratizing data. The program will be a valuable resource for the entire neurodegeneration community and will have a significant focus on training the next generation of PD researchers. Underlying data, analytical processes, and results from GP2 will be made available to the research community as quickly as possible, with minimal barriers to access and use.
Expanded understanding of the genetic architecture of PD has wide and deep implications for research and care. Findings and data generated from GP2 — new PD-linked genetic associations, relationships between mutations, protective variants, commonalities and differences in the genetics of disease in individuals of diverse ancestry — can help investigators understand who may develop PD, at what time, and to what degree. They can point scientists to new targets against which to develop new treatments to slow, stop, or prevent Parkinson's disease progression. They can help study sponsors design smaller, faster trials with the right drug for the right person at the right time with better methods to assess efficacy. And they can help people living with Parkinson’s and their families understand risk, make lifestyle changes to delay onset, and develop a treatment plan.
GP2 Steering Committee
GP2 is a five-year study led by Andrew Singleton, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health and a steering committee comprising:
- Cornelis Blauwendraat, PhD; National Institutes of Health, USA
- Alexis Brice, MD; Brain and Spine Institute, France
- Bradford Casey, PhD; The Michael J. Fox Foundation, USA
- Sumit Dey, MSc; Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
- Brian Fiske, PhD; The Michael J. Fox Foundation, USA
- Tatiana Foroud, PhD; Indiana University, USA
- Thomas Gasser, MD; University of Tubingen, Germany
- John Hardy, PhD; University College London, United Kingdom
- Christine Klein, MD; University of Lubeck, Germany
- Rejko Kruger, MD; Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, Luxembourg
- Ken Marek, MD; The Michael J. Fox Foundation, USA
- Ignacio Fernandez Mata, PhD; Cleveland Clinic, USA
- Kin Mok, MBBS, FRCP(E), PhD; University College London, United Kingdom
- Huw Morris, FRCP, PhD; University College London, United Kingdom
- Michael Nalls, PhD; Data Tecnica International, USA
- Alastair Noyce, MRCP, PhD; Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
- Alyssa O'Grady, BA; The Michael J. Fox Foundation, USA
- Ekemini A. U. Riley, PhD; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's, USA
- Mie Rizig, MD, PhD; University College London, United Kingdom
- Manu Sharma, PhD; University of Tubingen, Germany
- Justin C. Solle, MBA; The Michael J. Fox Foundation, USA
- Enza Maria Valente, MD, PhD; University of Pavia, Italy
- Claire Wegel, MPH; Indiana University School of Medicine, USA
- Nigel Williams, PhD; Cardiff University, United Kingdom
- Nicholas Wood, MB ChB, PhD; University College London, United Kingdom
ASAP is leveraging The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s grantmaking infrastructure to give awards to various partners for this study. Read more on other GP2 Partners on the ASAP website.
Training Opportunities
Training is central to the GP2 effort, and throughout this project ASAP will offer development opportunities on genetics of Parkinson’s disease and other related areas to everyone interested. Explore the catalog of materials on the ASAP website.