World Parkinson Coalition adds five directors to board

The World Parkinson Coalition has named five new members to its Board of Directors, adding leaders in research, clinical care, advocacy and lived experience. The appointments come as the group prepares for its next World Parkinson Congress in Québec City in 2029.

Why it matters: - The new board adds expertise that spans Parkinson’s research, clinical neurology, mental health, patient advocacy and global collaboration. - The appointments are meant to strengthen the World Parkinson Coalition’s work on research, care and the voices of people living with Parkinson’s disease. - The board changes come as the organization builds toward the 8th World Parkinson Congress in 2029.

What happened: - The World Parkinson Coalition announced five new members to its Board of Directors on Sept. 30, 2026. - The new directors are Rebecca Miller, Soania Mathur, Richard Smeyne, Ai Huey Tan and Simon Lewis. - The World Parkinson Coalition also thanked five outgoing board members whose terms ended: Rajesh Pahwa, Alice Nieuwboer, Linda Olson, Omotola Thomas and Ryosuke Takahashi. - The board is led by President Malú G. Tansey and Vice President Jeffrey Kordower.

The details: - Rebecca Miller is an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and director of Peer Support & Family Initiatives at the Connecticut Mental Health Center. - Miller lives with young-onset Parkinson’s disease and has taken part in Parkinson’s advocacy, including as a delegate and speaker at previous World Parkinson Congresses. - Soania Mathur is a family physician, founder of UnshakeableMD and co-founder of PD Avengers. - Mathur was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 27 and has focused on patient education, empowerment and advocacy. - Richard Smeyne is professor and chair of neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University and director of the Jefferson Comprehensive Parkinson’s Center within the Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience. - Smeyne’s research examines cellular mechanisms behind neuronal vulnerability and resilience in Parkinson’s disease, including genetic, environmental, inflammatory and infectious factors. - Ai Huey Tan is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. - Tan adds geographic diversity and a Southeast Asia perspective to the board. - Simon Lewis is professor of cognitive neurology at Macquarie University Brain Institute and Clinic in Sydney. - Lewis is a neurologist focused on neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. - Lewis leads clinical and research work aimed at improving understanding, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for people with these conditions. - The coalition said the five new directors represent the breadth of expertise central to its mission, from basic and clinical research to advocacy and patient-centered care.

Between the lines: - The appointments mix scientific expertise with lived experience, signaling a board designed to shape both research priorities and community engagement. - Adding leaders from the U.S., Canada, Malaysia and Australia broadens the coalition’s international footprint. - The departures and new appointments suggest a planned refresh rather than a course correction. - The coalition is also leaning into its congress model as a way to keep the global Parkinson’s community connected between major meetings.

What's next: - The World Parkinson Coalition will continue preparing for the 8th World Parkinson Congress, set for June 26-29, 2029, in Québec City, Canada. - The organization says a complete list of board members is available on the World Parkinson Coalition website. - The coalition also points to momentum from the 7th World Parkinson Congress in Phoenix as it enters its next planning cycle.

The bottom line: - The World Parkinson Coalition is expanding its leadership with a board that blends research, care and lived experience as it looks ahead to its next global congress.