C-OPN Visits Moncton

Strengthening Parkinson’s Research and Community Connections in Atlantic Canada: C-OPN Visits Moncton

October 23–24, 2026 | Moncton, New Brunswick

The Canadian Open Parkinson Network (C-OPN) was pleased to participate in two important Parkinson’s events in Moncton, New Brunswick, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, community organizations, advocates, and people living with Parkinson’s disease.

The two-day visit provided valuable opportunities to strengthen partnerships, promote research participation, and support ongoing efforts to improve Parkinson’s care and research accessibility throughout Atlantic Canada.

Advancing Provincial Priorities at the SOLVE Parkinson’s Roundtable

On October 23, C-OPN National Manager Anna Bendas participated in the SOLVE Parkinson’s New Brunswick Roundtable, organized by Parkinson Canada, the New Brunswick Parkinson’s Working Group, and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick, with support from AbbVie.

Building on the inaugural SOLVE Parkinson’s Conference in October 2025 and a subsequent roundtable in June 2026, the gathering brought together representatives from healthcare systems, research institutions, advocacy organizations, funding agencies, industry, and the Parkinson’s community. Participants focused on translating previously identified challenges into actionable priorities for improving Parkinson’s care and support across New Brunswick.

Discussions addressed three interconnected areas:

• Community education and awareness: Improving public understanding of Parkinson’s disease and access to relevant information and resources.
• Healthcare navigation and models of care: Strengthening pathways to diagnosis, specialized care, and coordinated community services.
• Clinical care and research integration: Expanding opportunities for research participation, improving connections between clinical care and research, and developing collaborative research infrastructure.

The roundtable also explored approaches to measuring progress and informing the development of a coordinated provincial action plan.

For C-OPN, these discussions reinforced the importance of connecting people living with Parkinson’s to research opportunities regardless of geographical location and building partnerships that support equitable participation.

Connecting with the Parkinson’s Community at IQ + You

On October 24, C-OPN participated in Parkinson’s IQ + You, hosted by Parkinson Canada and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at the Delta Hotels Beauséjour in Moncton.

The educational event brought together people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, researchers, healthcare professionals, and advocates for a day of knowledge exchange and community engagement. The program featured discussions on building multidisciplinary Parkinson’s care teams, exploring advances in Parkinson’s research, and translating education into meaningful action. Throughout the day, the C-OPN information booth welcomed numerous visitors interested in learning about the Network, its national research initiatives, and opportunities to contribute to Parkinson’s research. These conversations provided an opportunity to introduce C-OPN’s expanding presence in New Brunswick, answer questions about research participation, and hear directly from individuals and families about their interests and experiences.

Notably, attendees travelled not only from New Brunswick but also from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, highlighting the strong interest in Parkinson’s research, education, and opportunities for community connection across the Atlantic region.

Expanding Research Opportunities in New Brunswick

As a national research platform, C-OPN works to connect people living with Parkinson’s and other parkinsonian disorders, as well as eligible healthy controls, with research opportunities across Canada. Through its growing national registry, harmonized clinical database, and collaborative research infrastructure, the Network supports studies aimed at improving our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and accelerating scientific discovery. C-OPN is working with regional partners to establish a remote recruitment pathway in New Brunswick, helping expand access to national research initiatives for individuals who may face geographical or logistical barriers to participating at established clinical research sites. Community engagement activities such as the Moncton events are essential to building awareness of these opportunities and ensuring that people with lived experience remain central to Parkinson’s research.

Looking Ahead: Stronger Connections Across Atlantic Canada

The Moncton visit underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between research networks, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and the Parkinson’s community. C-OPN looks forward to deepening its relationships with partners in New Brunswick and throughout Atlantic Canada, expanding opportunities for research participation, and contributing to collaborative initiatives that reflect the priorities and needs of the community. We extend our sincere thanks to the New Brunswick Parkinson’s Working Group, Parkinson Canada, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the University of New Brunswick, and all participating organizations and community members for their engagement and commitment.