A study conducted by the Parkinson’s Research Alliance of India (PRAI) on the genetic basis of early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Indian patients received the ‘Best Poster’ award at the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) Annual Conference held in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2026.
The Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2), an initiative under Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP), brings together researchers from across the world to advance the understanding of Parkinson’s disease genetics, with a focus on populations historically underrepresented in research. The programme also supports discoveries that can inform future therapeutic strategies.
Titled “From Genes to Pathways: Genetic Convergence in Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease in India,” the study builds on PRAI’s 2024 research project, GOPI-YOPD (Genetics of Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in India), conducted in collaboration with MedGenome and published in the Movement Disorders Journal.
Analysing data from 668 participants, the study examines how genes associated with early-onset Parkinson’s disease converge across biological pathways, including mitochondrial function, cellular waste clearance and neuronal communication.
The study poster was selected from more than 50 genetics-focused submissions at the GP2 Annual Conference. The award highlights the importance of including diverse populations in global genetics research, as findings from cohorts comprising predominantly European ancestry may not fully capture the genetic diversity of South Asian populations.
Dr Prashanth LK, Consultant Neurologist and Movement Disorders Specialist and Principal Investigator of Project GOPI-YOPD, said, “India is witnessing a rapid rise in the burden of Parkinson’s disease, with the average age at onset reported to be nearly a decade earlier than in Western populations. These observations underscore the urgent need to understand the genetic and environmental factors shaping PD in India. Our research into the genetic underpinnings of PD is yielding valuable insights that may help explain this population’s distinctive disease patterns. By bringing an Indian perspective to a global challenge, we aim to advance understanding of PD and contribute to the development of more targeted therapeutic strategies.”
While the findings deepen the understanding of Parkinson’s disease genetics in Indian patients, further validation is needed to establish their clinical applications. The research is currently available as a preprint on medRxiv.