November 9, 2026

@michaelokun

Moderating the session “When Research Reaches People: Real-World Success Stories” at the National Parkinson’s Advisory Council reminded me that the true measure of scientific progress is not simply discovery or publication, but whether research actually reaches people and changes their lives. Simon Little, MD, PhD, from the University of California, San Francisco, shared the remarkable evolution of deep brain stimulation from treating motor symptoms to adaptive approaches that respond to brain circuit dysfunction, with opportunities to address nonmotor symptoms, sleep, and other challenges. Bill Martin, PhD, formerly of Johnson & Johnson, described the long journey of bringing amyloid PET imaging into clinical practice for Alzheimer’s disease, including the importance of Medicare coverage, overcoming regulatory barriers, and ensuring that diagnostic advances become accessible to patients. Claudio Soto, PhD, from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, highlighted how alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays are transforming our ability to detect Parkinson’s biology earlier, potentially before symptoms emerge, while reminding us that validation and commercial sustainability are essential for translating discoveries into clinical tools. David Vaillancourt, PhD, from the University of Florida, shared the journey of NeuroPacs, an MRI-based diagnostic aid designed to improve differentiation among Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, illustrating how persistence over many years, regulatory engagement, and eventual coverage decisions can determine whether a promising technology reaches the clinic. What resonated most with me across all four presentations was that discovery is only the beginning. We must screen, measure, validate, navigate regulatory pathways, secure coverage, and ultimately deliver innovations to patients. From the early 2000's to 2026, these stories illustrated that translation often takes decades, requiring scientists, clinicians, industry, regulators, payers, and patients to work together. Our responsibility is not simply to fund discovery, but to build and sustain the entire pathway from the laboratory to the person.