The Parkinson’s Foundation has announced a $10 million investment in research, care, and education programs for those with Parkinson's disease.

The investment includes funding to expand PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson's Disease to Hispanic and Caribbean communities, which have been historically underrepresented in PD clinical trials. The initiative, which provides genetic testing and counseling at no-cost to people with Parkinson’s, aims to reach fifteen thousand people with PD, many of whom could become candidates for clinical trials.

The funding also will be used to expand the organization's Impact Awards, which provide support to new and established PD researchers; boost access to improved care in communities and care settings across the United States through its Center of Excellence Network; accelerate palliative care efforts as a new standard of holistic, team-based care; and test new models of hospital care delivery to improve the health and safety of people with PD. In addition, $2 million will be allocated to the foundation's community grants program, with a focus on diverse and underserved PD communities.

"We are investing an additional $10 million toward mission programs that will help make life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure," said Parkinson's Foundation president and CEO John L. Lehr. "Our donors and volunteers stood with us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and after a record-setting year we are now accelerating funding to areas that are most important to the PD community."