Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s
Background
ASAP (Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s) is a global research initiative managed by the Coalition for Aligning Science in partnership with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Its mission is to revolutionise scientific collaboration and accelerate discoveries in Parkinson’s research by fostering open communication and resource sharing.
The Challenge
ASAP aimed to overcome the traditional silos in scientific research by creating a digital platform that fosters collaboration among researchers worldwide. The challenge was to design a secure, user-friendly interface that facilitated the seamless sharing of research, improved workflows, and ensured data privacy while addressing the complex needs of the scientific community. My role involved iterating on existing features and adding new ones to improve functionality, accessibility, and user engagement.
The Project
The project had been ongoing for four years and is still evolving. I joined as a temporary collaborator for six months, contributing to the refinement of existing features and the design of new ones. The team worked in an agile framework with two-week sprints, ensuring continuous delivery and iteration. We collaborated in cross-functional teams, with a highly iterative approach that included regular rituals as Internal daily stand-ups, sprint planning, end-of-sprint demos, and sprint retrospectives.
Team
1 Product Owner, 1 Tech Lead, 3 Devs, 1 Lead Product Designer, 1 Product Designer.
Tools
My contribution
My contribution focused on the areas outlined below, where I designed new features and iterated on existing ones to enhance the platform’s functionality and user experience.
1. Designing New Features for CRN and GP2 Hubs
As part of my contribution to the CRN and GP2 Hubs, I collaborated with the team to design new features that expanded the platform's functionality, addressing user needs and aligning with ASAP's mission of fostering collaboration and innovation.
Grant Proposal Feature for
CRN Hub
CRN Hub
The user problem was that researchers faced an inefficient, email-based process for grant proposals, with no easy access to approved versions or renewal statuses, causing delays and frustration.
The Desing team created the Grant Proposal feature, streamlining submissions with a centralised platform and enabling the institution to display approved documents and renewal statuses. This solution improves efficiency, transparency, and user experience.
The Desing team created the Grant Proposal feature, streamlining submissions with a centralised platform and enabling the institution to display approved documents and renewal statuses. This solution improves efficiency, transparency, and user experience.
Interest Groups for GP2
Researchers struggled to manage and join topic-specific interest groups in the Hub due to the lack of a dedicated feature, hindering collaboration.
A new feature was created, adding a navigation layer that allows researchers to easily discover, join, and manage these groups. This solution improved usability and fostered greater engagement within the research community.
A new feature was created, adding a navigation layer that allows researchers to easily discover, join, and manage these groups. This solution improved usability and fostered greater engagement within the research community.
Alumni Status for GP2
The problem was that former members who had completed their active participation in projects were disconnected from the platform, losing access to valuable resources and opportunities for ongoing engagement.
To address this, a feature was added to recognise these individuals as alumni, allowing them to stay connected and continue accessing important resources even after their active involvement had ended.
To address this, a feature was added to recognise these individuals as alumni, allowing them to stay connected and continue accessing important resources even after their active involvement had ended.
2. Redesigning GP2 Navigation
The GP2 Hub's navigation bar was redesigned to accommodate the platform's growing complexity by introducing an additional level of navigation. This update improved usability by logically grouping related features and incorporating a dropdown structure for quick access to subcategories without overwhelming users. The redesign also ensured responsiveness across devices, offering a seamless experience on both desktop and mobile. As a result, the new navigation system enhanced discoverability and efficiency, enabling users to easily locate the tools and resources they needed.
3. Features Iteration and User testing
Numerous features across the two Hubs were refined through continuous iterations, with a focus on enhancing two key areas in the CRN Hub, driven by insights from user testing sessions with diverse user groups.
Compliance Feature:
This functionality enables researchers to share manuscripts while meeting strict technical protocols. User testing confirmed that the flow was user-friendly and effective but highlighted specific areas for improvement. Feedback led to streamlining the submission process, enhancing form design, and providing clearer instructions.
Analytics Feature:
Built to assist administrators in analyzing data from research teams and laboratories, this feature underwent iterative enhancements based on user feedback. While testing validated the overall usability of the flow, users pointed out areas for refinement. Updates included reorganised table layouts, improved navigation, and optimised filters to handle large datasets more efficiently.
4.Design System Consolidation
Maintaining a consistent and scalable Design System was a cornerstone of improving the CRN and GP2 Hubs. My contributions focused on addressing inconsistencies, creating new components to meet evolving design needs, and optimising the system for efficiency.
Creation of new components:
As the platform evolved, new design challenges emerged, requiring the development of additional components. I contributed to the creation of reusable UI elements tailored to specific requirements.
Optimising the Design System:
I addressed the presence of redundant components, styles, and assets within the Design System. By thoroughly auditing and removing these duplicates, I reduced confusion for the team and streamlined the design process.
Deliverables
The collaboration significantly improved the ASAP CRN and GP2 Hubs, growing active users from 100 in 2021 to over 1,400 in 2024 and boosting participation rates from 16% to 60%. This achievement was driven by the introduction of impactful new features and iterative enhancements to complex functionalities. These efforts increased engagement, streamlined workflows, and solidified the Hubs as indispensable tools for advancing Parkinson’s research.
500+
Articles on key findings
1500+
Detailed research protocols
1000+
Lab resources for research
Reflections on the Process: Key Takeaways from This Project
This project highlighted the importance of iteration, collaboration, and scalability in designing for complex systems. Regular user testing refined features to align with real workflows, while the consolidation of the Design System ensured consistency and efficiency. Cross-functional teamwork in an agile environment was critical to delivering impactful solutions, contributing to increased user engagement and the platform’s role as a vital tool for Parkinson’s research.
Want to work together?
If you like what you see and want to work together, get in touch!
irene.av.designer@gmail.com
