The Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Founder	Michael J. Fox
Type	Non-profit, Interest group
Fields	Parkinson's disease clinical research
Website	www.michaeljfox.org

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease (PD) through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensure the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. Established by actor Michael J. Fox in 2000, the Foundation has since become the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's disease research in the world, investing more than $450 million in research to date.^[1] The Foundation's proactive approach to advancing PD science has made it "the most credible voice on Parkinson's research in the world".^[2] In 2010 the Fox foundation launched the first large scale clinical study on evolution biomarkers of the disease at a cost of $45 million over 5 years.^[3]

Research funding

The Foundation targets people's high-risk, "translational" research—the work of translating basic scientific discoveries into simple treatments with definition to benefit the estimated five million people living with Parkinson's disease today.^[4]

The Foundation drives progress by awarding grants to ensure that the most promising research avenues are thoroughly funded, explored and carried forward toward pharmacy shelves.^[5] The Foundation's four annually recurring Pipeline Programs aim to speed research along the drug development pipeline.^[6] The Pipeline Programs include:

Rapid Response Innovation Awards quickly support high-risk, high-reward projects with little to no existing preliminary data, but potential to significantly impact our understanding or treatment of PD (an Edmond J. Safra Core Program for PD Research).

Target Validation Awards provide support for work demonstrating whether modulation of a novel biological target has impact in a PD-relevant pre-clinical model — an essential step to the development of potential targeted therapies (an Edmond J. Safra Core Program for PD Research).

Clinical Intervention Awards support clinical testing of promising PD therapies that may significantly and fundamentally improve treatment of PD (an Edmond J. Safra Core Program for PD Research).

Therapeutics Development Initiative, an industry-exclusive support program for preclinical development of Parkinson’s disease therapies with potential to fundamentally alter disease course and/or improve treatment of symptoms above and beyond current standards of care.

The Pipeline Programs are complemented by the Foundation's Critical Challenges in Parkinson's Disease program, which provides funds for top research priorities.^[7] Critical Challenges in 2009/2010 include: speeding research on PD genetic targets, LRRK2 and alpha-synuclein; advancing research on neurotrophic factors; identifying biomarkers of PD; understanding patient's unmet needs, like postural instability and gait disturbances; and, promoting collaborations with the Arizona Parkinson's Disease Consortium.

Team Fox

Team Fox for Parkinson's Research is the foundation’s grassroots community project raising funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease.

Education and awareness

The Michael J. Fox Foundation publishes a print newsletter, The Fox Focus, two times per year as well as a monthly e-newsletter, FoxFlash, to keep supporters updated on Parkinson's research progress.^[8] In 2010, the Foundation launched an audio podcast series on Parkinson's science, hosted by KQED Public Radio Host David Iverson.^[9] Living with Parkinson's is the Foundation's online source for information on PD (including an animation about how the brain is affected by Parkinson's), guides for the newly diagnosed and caregivers, stories from people living with the disease and additional resources.^[10]

References

External links

• The Michael J. Fox Foundation Web site