Uncovering the roots of Parkinson's disease, together
A global basic research initiative
Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) is fostering collaboration and resources to better understand the underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease. With scale, transparency, and open access data sharing, we believe we can accelerate the pace of discovery, and inform the path to a cure.
ASAP Announces Protocol Particulars Series
ASAP has launched a new interview series where ASAP-funded researchers explain their protocols and share tips and best practices for utilizing them.


Collaborative Science Unlocks GBA1 Discovery
ASAP’s Managing Director Ekemini Riley reflects on the discovery of the first Parkinson’s disease genetic risk factor specific for African ancestry populations and highlights how GP2 is paving the way for impactful discoveries like this and more to come through its model of diverse, inclusive, and collaborative research.
New GBA Variant Linked to PD
Thanks in large part to the work of GP2 researchers, we are one step closer to understanding the genetic architecture of Parkinson’s Disease. Read our recently published article in The Lancet Neurology.

Latest News

2023 ASAP Collaborative Meeting Series – A Look Back
ASAP’s 2023 Collaborative Meetings welcomed core leadership and trainees from each CRN team to create a space to make connections, share their work, and spark new ideas that spanned career levels, disciplines, and continents. Each event showcased participants who received awards for their work that they presented at the meeting.

Risk factor for Parkinson’s discovered in genes from people of African descent
Read NPR’s coverage of GP2’s historic GBA1 finding. This article by Jon Hamilton includes interviews with ASAP’s Managing Director, Dr. Ekemini A. U. Riley, and lead GP2 study researchers, Andy Singleton and Sara Bandres-Ciga.

Gene variant found linking people of African descent to higher Parkinson’s risk
Dr. Ekemini A. U. Riley, managing director of ASAP, joins PBS NewsHour to discuss findings from the GBA1 discovery and the power of collaborative, open science to unlock discoveries for populations traditionally underrepresented in research.