As per Eventbrite:
New science is challenging how we define and treat Parkinson’s disease.
For decades, Parkinson’s has been diagnosed by clinical symptoms and managed with symptomatic therapies. But recent discoveries are unlocking biological subtypes of the disease, bringing us closer to earlier diagnosis, targeted therapeutics and potentially disease-modifying treatments.
At this edition of MaRS Mornings, we explore the frontier of Parkinson’s research and commercialization. From emerging biomarkers to the promise of gene and cell therapies and beyond, our panel will discuss how the field is moving toward personalized medicine and what it will take to accelerate progress in Canada.
Join leading experts from academia, biotech and health research as they discuss what’s next for Parkinson’s, and how Canada can lead in this new era of precision neuroscience.
Location: MaRS Centre - LIVE Lounge, 661 University Ave, Toronto, ON
Agenda:
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. — Registration, coffee and networking
9:15 - 9:20 a.m. — Opening remarks
9:20 - 9:55 a.m. — Panel discussion
9:55 - 10:00 a.m. — Audience Q&A
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. — Networking
Speakers:
Jonathan Brotchie, CEO, Atuka
Jonathan Brotchie’s research focuses on the intersection of basal ganglia function and Parkinson’s disease. In both academia and industry, teams led by Jon have discovered and validated targets, and evaluated the pre-clinical efficacy of more potential treatments for PD than any others globally. They have assessed over 300 drugs, biologics, and gene therapies, with more than 80 tested in non-human primates, and over 25 progressing to clinical development. Jon has collaborated with more than 100 pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and acted as consultant to more than 80 global organizations (commercial, academic, charitable and governmental). He is a prolific contributor to academic literature, and his extensive body of work has been influential in defining the science of Parkinson’s disease as we know it today. He is the founder of Atuka and its CEO.
Joanne Nash, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto
Joanne Nash is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough, with a graduate faculty appointment in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto. She is also a research affiliate at KITE (UHN). Joanne’s research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial dysfunction and synaptic plasticity. Her work bridges fundamental neuroscience and translational research, with the goal of identifying and validating novel disease-modifying targets for Parkinson’s disease. She has developed and characterized innovative preclinical models that have advanced understanding of both neurodegeneration and the synaptic mechanisms contributing to Parkinsonian symptoms and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Her research has demonstrated that mitochondrial impairment plays a central role in the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Building on these insights, Joanne h is now leading the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at halting or reversing disease progression.
Stefan Irion, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, BlueRock
Stefan Irion, M.D., leads the Research organization at BlueRock Therapeutics. Since joining BlueRock in 2017, Stefan has taken on a number of roles in support of BlueRock’s scientific goals; developing CNS strategy, advancing the DA01 program through IND clearance, advancing multiple neurology pipeline candidates to the next stage of development to building and expanding a cross-site and cross-functional research team. Prior to BlueRock, Stefan was part of the leadership team at Memorial Sloan Kettering that developed MSK-DA01, the current lead program at BlueRock. Stefan worked as a Senior Scientist at iPierian developing iPSCs prior to joining MSK. Stefan received his M.D. from the University of Tuebingen and did Postdoctoral Fellowship work at both Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and University Health Network in Toronto.
Moderator:
Nicole Ireland, Health Reporter, The Canadian Press
Nicole Ireland is a national health reporter with The Canadian Press. Prior to joining CP in 2022, she was a radio, web and TV reporter, an on-air radio newsreader and an online news producer for CBC News based in Toronto. Before that, she reported for CBC News from Iqaluit, Nunavut, and from Thunder Bay, Ont. She earned her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York after working as a communications officer for UNICEF based in Beirut and in Toronto. Nicole is passionate about covering both the science and the humanity of physical and mental health, as well as social justice issues. She is the 2025 winner of the Joan Hollobon Award, presented annually by the Canadian Public Relations Society to a member of the media whose work has contributed significantly to the public’s understanding of health care over the previous year.