The Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2): Advancing genetic discovery and capacity building worldwide

The Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) is an international initiative funded by Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP), in partnership with the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), to accelerate genetic discovery and improve ancestral representation in Parkinson's disease (PD) and related diseases through collaboration, open data sharing, and research capacity building. Since its launch in 2020, GP2 has assembled the largest and most ancestrally diverse PD dataset to date, integrating genotyping, sequencing, and harmonized clinical data from over 240 cohorts worldwide. Through its structured monogenic and complex disease networks, the program spans rare and common variant discovery to advance understanding of PD genetics. Recent GP2-supported studies have identified more than 50 novel genetic risk factors for PD, including a remarkably common GBA1 risk variant among people of African ancestry, and have confirmed new candidate causal genes such as RAB32. Ongoing efforts include whole-genome burden testing, multiple ancestrally-diverse genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polygenic risk modeling, and expansion into atypical Parkinsonism and prodromal cohorts. Beyond discovery, GP2 has invested extensively in research infrastructure and training, supporting more than 270 early-career investigators through workshops, hackathons, and a trainee-to-trainer mentorship framework. These initiatives build local capacity and empower researchers, particularly in underrepresented regions, to lead future genetic studies. GP2 provides an equitable, collaborative model for accelerating the field's understanding of the genetics of PD and related disorders. Continued expansion will enhance population diversity, refine mechanistic insights, better delineate disease onset and progression, and advance progress toward precision medicine across the Parkinsonian spectrum.Plain language summary titleGP2: Genetics and Capacity Building Worldwide.