Advocacy & Research with Prof. David Blacker at the Parkinson’s Australia National Conference 2025
The Parkinson’s Australia National Conference 2025 is fast approaching, and we are excited to announce one of our distinguished speakers, Prof. David Blacker — a renowned Australian neurologist and advocate for banning paraquat, a harmful herbicide linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Meet Prof. David Blacker, AM, MB BS, FRACP
Prof. David Blacker is a leading neurologist and researcher, dedicated to improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s. With a wealth of experience in clinical neurology and a passion for advocacy, Prof. Blacker was awarded a Membership of the Oder of Australia (AM) in recognition of service to neurology and medical research
He is currently the medical director of the Perron Institute for neurological and translation science, clinical professor of Neurology at the University of Western Australia and a board member of Parkinson’s WA. For most of his career he was a stroke neurologist and researcher, including working closely with the Perron Institute scientists on developing neuroprotective therapies. In 2018, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which contributed to him retiring from clinical practice in 2023. He writes and speaks widely about his personal experience with PD, and hopes to assist others by sharing this. He aims to help his medical colleagues gain a greater insight into living with PD and to improve their communication and interactions with people with PD. He has written a book, “My FIGHT with PD” which covers these issues. He led the FIGHT-PD study of boxing exercise and continues to train 2 or 3 times per week. He recently assisted a review of the 2021 Parkinson’s exercise recommendations for the Parkinson’s Foundation and American College of Sports Medicine.
Passion and ethos
Prof. Blacker is particularly passionate about banning paraquat, a widely used herbicide that has been associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s and other conditions. He spent several years as a child living in rural Western Australia and was a frequent visitor to relatives who lived on farms. He has also been a keen golfer for more than 50 years. He suspects these activities may have exposed him to pesticides, possibly playing a role in the development of his young onset PD. Since 2021 he has been looking closely at the issue of pesticides and PD. In 2024, following the APVMA’s release of their report on paraquat he rallied his medical colleagues around Australia and internationally to advocate for a ban, and if not a ban, at least recognition that paraquat exposure IS a risk for developing PD. He is concerned that if this risk is not recognised farmers, their families and neighbours will continue to be at risk. His advocacy efforts aim to raise awareness about the dangers of paraquat and to push for policy changes to protect public health. Prof. Blacker combines his scientific expertise with a strong commitment to public advocacy, making him a powerful voice in the fight against paraquat for the Parkinson’s community.
Why attend?
Prof. Blacker will be presenting a talk on Ban paraquat campaign update and where to from here. In this session, he will discuss the latest research findings on the link between paraquat and Parkinson’s, and the steps that can be taken to advocate for a ban on this harmful chemical. His talk will provide valuable insights for researchers, clinicians, and people affected by Parkinson’s.
Additionally, Prof. Blacker will be available for a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with him and learn more about his work and advocacy efforts. If you haven’t booked yet, go to Parkinson’s Australia National Conference to register and find out more.
Join Us
Join over 16,000 Aussies and sign the petition to #BanParaquat in Australia! Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from this esteemed speaker and many others. Join us in advocating for change, advancing research, and building a supportive community at the #PANC2025. We look forward to seeing you there!
Articles & more from Prof. Blacker:
Blacker, D. J., Cruickshank, T., Turner, M., Tucak, C., & Fazio, R. (2021). 061 Feasibility of instituting graduated high intensity training for parkinson disease (FIGHT-PD); a non-contact boxing exercise study.
Blacker, D. J., Fazio, R., Tucak, C., Beranek, P., Pollard, C., Shelley, T., Rajandran, S., Holbeche, G., Turner, M., & Cruickshank, T. (2024). FIGHT-PD: A feasibility study of periodized boxing training for Parkinson disease. PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation, 16(1), 36–46. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12986
Speaker bio: https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/PARKINSONS25/speakers.html
