2026 MDS-ES Focused Workshop
Parkinson's Disease Decoded: Genes, Environment, and the Epidemiological Challenge

Join leading experts in the field to explore the complex interplay of genetics, environmental exposures, and emerging epidemiological trends in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Through a mix of plenary lectures, interactive panel discussions, and abstract presentations, you will gain critical insights into the biological, molecular, and clinical dimensions of PD, as well as the translational challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Register now

 

Session 1: 
Parkinson's Disease: A tale of increasing complexity
Chair: Jean Christophe Corvol, MDS-ES Chair (Paris, France)
14:00 - 15: 45

Epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease: Is this a new pandemic?
Yoav Ben-Shlomo (Bristol, United Kingdom)

Why do so many PD trials fail? Current pitfalls in patients' stratification and model-to-human translation 
Margherita Fabbri (Toulouse, France)

Panel Discussion 

Session 2:
Main genetic determinants in Parkinson’s disease
Presented in collaboration with European Academy of Neurology (EAN)
Chair: EAN Representative
16:15 - 18:30

Worldwide incidence, mutational spectrum and phenotypes of Parkinson’s disease genes 
Enza Maria Valente (Pavia, Italy)

Genetic and environmental modifiers of LRRK2-PD
Joanne Trihn (Luebeck, Germany) 

Multilevel modulation of GBA penetrance 
Rosanna Asselta (Milan, Italy)

Panel Discussion

European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Information and Opportunities

Plenary:
Innovative strategies to tackle Parkinson’s disease genetics
Chair: Kathrin Brockmann (Tübingen, Germany)
18:30 - 19:15
Christine Klein (Luebeck, Germany)

Event:
Welcome Reception
19:30 - 20:30

Drinks and light appetizers will be served.

Session 3:
Genome-wide complexity of Parkinson’s disease risk
Chair: Thomas Gasser (Tübingen, Germany)
8:30 - 10:00 

PD-GWAS and genome-wide determinants of phenotypic traits
Huw Morris (London, United Kingdom)

Epigenetic modifiers
Lasse Pihlstrom (Oslo, Norway)

Panel Discussion 

Session 4:
α-synuclein-mediated pathways to disease
10:30 - 12:30
Chair: TBA

Pathological α-synuclein and mitochondrial damage
Speaker TBA

Transcriptomic signatures in synucleinopathies
Mina Ryten (London, United Kingdom)

Dysfunction of clearance systems and α-synuclein toxicity
Friederike Zunke (Erlagen, Germany)

Panel Discussion

Plenary Lecture:
Toward a biological definition of neuronal and glial synucleinopathies 
Chair: Brit Mollenhauer (Gottingen, Germany)
12:30 - 13:15    
Guenter Hoglinger (Munich, Germany)

Poster Session / Oral Platform Presentations
Chair: Roberto Erro (Salerno, Italy)
13:45 – 14:45

Session 5:  
Environmental factors and lifestyle
Chair: David Burn, MDS President (Galway, Ireland)
15:00 - 17:00

Pesticides and air pollution in Parkinson’s disease  risk
Alastair Noyce (London, United Kingdom)

Modifiable environmental factors: tobacco, diet and more
Alexis Elbaz (Paris, France)

Combining exposome and metabolome to detect environmental modifiers in genetic Parkinson’s disease 
Emma L. Schymanski (Luxembourg)

Panel Discussion 

Session 6:
Parkinson’s disease comorbidities
Chair: Pille Taba (Tartu, Estonia)
17:30 - 19:00

Diabetes and insulin-resistance
Speaker TBD

Cancer
Tiago Outeiro (Gottingen, Germany)

Panel Discussion 

Plenary Lecture:
Exercising body and brain: A neuroscientific perspective
Chair: TBA
19:00 - 19:45    
Bas Bloem (Njimegen, The Netherlands)

Session 7:
The crosstalk between gut and brain
Chair: Cristian Falup-Pecurariu (Brasov, Romania)
8:30 - 10:30

The gut-brain axis
Per Borghammer (Aarhus, Denmark)

Parkinson’s disease dysbiome triggers neurodegeneration in mice
Sandra Morais Cardoso (Coimbra, Portugal)

Microbiota-based interventions to treat Parkinson’s disease
Filip Scheperjans (Helsinki, Finland)

Panel Discussion

Session 8:
Inflammation and immunity
Chair: TBD
11:00 - 13:00

Brain inflammation across neurodegenerative diseases
Michael T. Heneka (Luxembourg)

Modulation of inflammation in alpha-synuclein mouse models)
Vania Broccoli (Milan, Italy)

Role of lipid dysregulation in neuroinflammation and therapeutic perspectives
Per Svenningson (Stockholm, Sweden)

Panel Discussion 

Plenary Lecture:
Artificial intelligence‑based stratification of Parkinson’s disease trajectories
Chair: Esther Cubo (Madrid, Spain)
13:00 - 13:45    

1. Evaluate the current epidemiological trends in Parkinson’s disease, including the potential global rise in incidence and the multifactorial contributors to its prevalence.

2. Analyze the major genetic contributors to PD, including the role of monogenic mutations and genetic risk factors (e.g., LRRK2, GBA), the known modifiers of penetrance and the influence of gene-environment interactions.

3. Discuss the significance of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), epigenetic mechanisms, and transcriptomic data in advancing precision medicine approaches for PD.

4. Understand the pathogenic role of α-synuclein, including its interactions with mitochondrial damage, protein clearance systems, and its relevance to glial and neuronal dysfunction.

5. Explore the gut-brain axis and microbiota-based therapies as emerging fields in PD pathogenesis and intervention strategies.

6. Investigate the roles of neuroinflammation and immune response, with a focus on lipid metabolism and targeted therapeutic opportunities.

7. Critically appraise the use of artificial intelligence in stratifying disease trajectories and improving personalized care models for Parkinson’s disease.