Parkinson’s Disease Research Funding

Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Awards

Provides critical funding to early career scientists to further their PD research

• Imaging Cholinergic Biomarker of Cognitive Decline in Parkinson’s Disease DementiaChuan Huang, PhD, Stony Brook University Health Science Center

• The Role of Neurite Defects in LRRK2-mediated NeurodegenerationIan Martin, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University
• The Role of Sensory Deficits in the Neural Control of Balance during Walking in Parkinson’s DiseaseJan Hendrik Reimann, PhD, University of Delaware

The Ontario Brain Institute

In Ontario, the provincial government provides funding to the Ontario Brain Institute. The Ontario Brain Institute is a not-for-profit research centre that focuses on brain research and care. This institute studies neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinsons disease, as well as other types of brain disorders, such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

In 2010, the Ontario government announced that it would provide $15 million in start-up funding over three years to the Ontario Brain Institute. In 2013, Ontario announced that it would renew the funding commitment, and pledged to provide another $100 million over five years.

What Causes The Disease

The precise cause of PD is unknown, although some cases of PD are hereditary and can be traced to specific genetic mutations. Most cases are sporadicthat is, the disease does not typically run in families. It is thought that PD likely results from a combination of genetics and exposure to one or more unknown environmental factors that trigger the disease.

The protein alpha-synuclein. The affected brain cells of people with PD contain Lewy bodiesdeposits of the protein alpha-synuclein. Researchers do not yet know why Lewy bodies form or what role they play in the disease. Some research suggests that the cells protein disposal system may fail in people with PD, causing proteins to build up to harmful levels and trigger cell death. Additional studies have found evidence that clumps of protein that develop inside brain cells of people with PD may contribute to the death of neurons.

Genetics. Several genetic mutations are associated with PD, including the alpha-synuclein gene, and many more genes have been tentatively linked to the disorder. The same genes and proteins that are altered in inherited cases may also be altered in sporadic cases by environmental toxins or other factors.

Environment. Exposure to certain toxins has caused parkinsonian symptoms in rare circumstances . Other still-unidentified environmental factors may also cause PD in genetically susceptible individuals.

Also Check: Diseases Similar To Parkinsons

Nerships Boost Research Funding

Partnering on research initiatives allows Parkinson Society Canada to invest more money into more research that will ultimately benefit the over 100,000 Canadians living with Parkinsons, their care partners, and families. It is the cornerstone of what we do as the largest non-government funder of Parkinsons research in Canada.

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research : Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction . PSC is partnering with INMHA to fund psychosocial research, offering two-year research grants and doctoral awards .
• Research Program on Care Practice in Cognitive Impairment in Aging. PSC is participating in this joint initiative led by CIHRs Institute of Aging. Additional partners include the Alzheimer Society of Canada, Canadian Home Care Association, Canadian Nurses Foundation, the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. This research program will net a total investment of $1.3 million over two years.
• Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec . PSC is partnering with FRSQ to co-fund four fellowships for clinical or basic research in Quebec, for a total investment of up to $400,000 over the next two years.

PSC Research Announcements

Find more posts about:

The Stem Cell Network

In the 2017 federal budget, the Canadian government proposed $6 million in funding to the Stem Cell Network. The Stem Cell Network is a not-for-profit organization that helps turn stem cell research into treatments. Stem cells offer the potential for treatments for a wide variety of diseases, and Parkinsons disease is one of them.

The Stem Cell Network focuses on research and training. It trains researchers and provides funding for world-class researchers. Its connected to Canadian universities and hospitals that run research programs, and it also partners with institutions around the world. The Stem Cell Network has also lead to many clinical trials.

Also Check: Parkinson’s Double Vision

Mentored Clinical Research Award

The PSG MCRA is for new investigators in patient-oriented research in Parkinsons disease and related disorders.

The Mentored Clinical Research Award for new investigators is funded by a grant from the Parkinsons Foundation to the Parkinson Study Group . The PF collaborates with the PSG to encourage the professional and scientific development of young investigators on their path to independence. To this end, this grant supports a new investigator for a one year project in patient oriented research in Parkinson disease or other parkinsonian disorders. The new investigator works under the mentorship of an experienced investigator. Training should enhance the junior clinical research skills. The research plan should address unmet needs of people living with PD, have the potential for broad application among the PD community, and lead to advances in clinically relevant treatment options.

Award Timeline: Closed for 2020.

2020Lan Luo, M.D., M.S., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology. Dr. Luo will evaluate Understanding Neural Networks of Freezing of Gait.

2018Emily J. Hill, MD, fellow in the Parkinsons Disease Center and Movement Disorders Program at the Baylor College of Medicine: Genetic dissection of clinical heterogeneity in Parkinson disease. Dr. Hill will evaluate clinic-based, quantitative mobility measures using a wearable sensor in comparison with standard clinic assessment for characteriza.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinsons disease is movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time. As nerve cells in parts of the brain weaken or are damaged or die, people may begin to notice problems with movement, tremor, stiffness in the limbs or the trunk of the body, or impaired balance. As these symptoms become more obvious, people may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Not everyone with one or more of these symptoms has PD, as the symptoms appear in other diseases as well.

No cure for PD exists today, but research is ongoing and medications or surgery can often provide substantial improvement with motor symptoms.

Recommended Reading: Judy Woodruff Health Problems

What We Dont Fund

We dont fund holidays, long-term financial commitments or daily living costs. We wont consider applications to fund items that youve already paid for, or committed to paying for.

We dont fund items or respite where funding should be available from the government or from your local authority.

If you dont qualify for a Parkinsons UK Grant, take a look at the Turn2us Benefits Calculator and Grants Search for information about other sources of grant funding for people affected by Parkinsons.

Train neurologists to become experts in PD care and research

• Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH Hubert Fernandez, MD. Read more.
• The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, NY Blair Ford, MD. Read more.
• University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Susan Fox, BM, PhD. Read more.
• University of Florida Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL Christopher Hess, MD. Read more.
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Alexander Pantelyat, MD. Read more.

What Is Needed To Succeed In This Role

• PhD or graduate level in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Medicine, or related field or equivalent
• 7-10 years research experience either laboratory or clinical preferable in Parkinsons Disease
• 3-5 years of research administration experience
• Experience and proficiency with computer software database use, spreadsheet and analytical software, and willingness and ability to gain such expertise
• Understanding of modern biomedical and clinical research technology and procedures
• Experience in successfully executing a strategic plan
• Business acumen with the ability to mobilize resources and develop new partnerships and ventures to enhance organizational mission
• Proven communication skills, both oral and written, including active listening skills
• A promoter and supporter of technology help achieve efficiencies and deliver on key business objectives
• Willingness to travel, availability, and a proven committed work ethic
• The ability to effectively communicate orally in both official languages preferred

Also Check: On-off Phenomenon

How Can People Cope With Parkinsons Disease

While PD usually progresses slowly, eventually daily routines may be affectedfrom socializing with friends to earning a living and taking care of a home. These changes can be difficult to accept. Support groups can help people cope with the diseases emotional impact. These groups also can provide valuable information, advice, and experience to help people with PD, their families, and their caregivers deal with a wide range of issues, including locating doctors familiar with the disease and coping with physical limitations. A list of national organizations that can help people locate support groups in their communities appears at the end of this information. Individual or family counseling may also help people find ways to cope with PD.

People with PD may also benefit from being proactive and finding out as much as possible about the disease in order to alleviate fear of the unknown and to take a positive role in maintaining their health. Many people with PD continue to work either full- or part-time, although they may need to adjust their schedule and working environment to accommodate their symptoms.

Yale Researchers Receive Asap Grant To Study Cognitive Impairments Of Parkinsons Disease

A team of researchersincluding Yale School of Medicines Thomas Biederer, PhD, associate professor of neurology, who is the coordinating lead investigator Elena Gracheva, PhD, associate professor of cellular and molecular physiology and of neuroscience and Michael Higley, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurosciencehas been awarded funding through the Aligning Science Across Parkinsons initiative. The $9 million grant will support work to understand cognitive impairments in Parkinsons disease. The team also includes Danielle Bassett, PhD, professor of bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and Michael Henderson, PhD, assistant professor of neurodegenerative science at the Van Andel Research Institute.

ASAP is dedicated to advancing research studies and treatments of Parkinsons. Its mission is to accelerate discovery through supporting highly collaborative teams and providing resources for the field including data sharing. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research is working with ASAP as its implementation partner and issues grants through its Collaborative Research Network.

Specifically, the team will study how pathology progression impacts the cortex, which is where all critical cognitive functions occur. We want to understand how cortical connectivity becomes impaired as Parkinsons progresses. Based on this knowledge, we will manipulate vulnerable network points to restore circuit functions underlying cognitive processing, says Biederer.

Also Check: Parkinson Silverware

Application Process And Proposal

Description of the proposed research plan should not exceed three pages and should consist of background, specific aims, research design, and a statement of significance for Parkinson disease research. The applicants NIH biosketch should be included. The applicant should list all current and pending support, including sponsoring agency, amount and dates for awards. The application should indicate how other sponsored research complements or supplements the present proposal.

The three page limit only applies to the length of the proposal, not the entire application.

What Types Of Programs Do We Fund

The Foundation funds programs that are impactful, sustainable, scalable and measurable. Programs may be new and existing grant-supported areas and/or pilot programs. All funded organizations and institutions must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The 2022 community grant cycle will focus on programs that:

Educate and deliver exercise specifically designed for people with Parkinsons

Reach the newly diagnosed

Address mental health and Parkinsons

Recommended Reading: Does Vitamin B12 Help Parkinson’s

Million Euro Grant For Research Into Earlier Recognition Of Parkinsons Disease

Welcome to Radboudumcwhat are you looking for?

• how to get to Radboudumc

Researchers from the Radboudumc, together with six partners from other countries, have been awarded a 1.5 million EU grant for research into early symptoms of Parkinsons disease. They will link the development of Parkinsons from the first signs to MRI images, genetic analyses and complaints experienced by patients. In this way, the researchers are charting the various subtypes of the disease and hope to be able to recognize the early stages earlier in the future.

Long before a patient is diagnosed, there are already signs and symptoms that indicate a very early stage of Parkinsons disease. These symptoms differ largely between patients. Sometimes the disease begins with loss of smell. This process begins in the olfactory bulb, the brain area responsible for smell. Other peoples first complaint is that they live out their dreams at night: they cry out in their sleep and bang around. The cause is loss of cells in the brain stem. In still others, depression is the first sign.

Join The Parkinsons Forums: An Online Community For People With Parkinsons Disease And Their Caregivers

Thanks to the Parkinsons Foundation, we look forward to bringing this unique tai chi program to people with newly diagnosed PD, she said.

Tai chi is an internal exercise system that combines breathing with slow, gentle movements to improve the flow of energy through the body, to quiet and calm the mind and emotions and improve overall health and well-being.

Tai chi has been found to be effective in reducing falls, which could be of extreme importance for those with Parkinsons, who many times see their balance deteriorate as their condition progresses.

The Parkinsons Foundation seeks to enhance life for patients by improving care and driving investigations toward a cure.

All funded programs are designed to help Parkinsons patients live better-quality lives. They include education, wellness, dance, art, boxing, cycling, yoga, nutrition, caregiver support, and music therapy.

Researchers have found that Parkinsons patients who exercise at least two-and-a-half hours a week also experience a slower decline in their quality of life. Specifically, more recent studies have focused on the concept of intense forced exercise, such as boxing, suggesting that certain types of exercise may be neuroprotective by actually slowing disease progression.

Yoga focused on mindfulness a mental exercise focused on accepting oneself in the present also has been found to lower anxiety, depression and motor impairment in people with mild-to-moderate Parkinsons disease.

Recommended Reading: Parkinson Bicycle Cleveland Clinic

Thanks For Signing Up

We are proud to have you as a part of our community. To ensure you receive the latest Parkinsons news, research updates and more, please check your email for a message from us. If you do not see our email, it may be in your spam folder. Just mark as not spam and you should receive our emails as expected.

How Can People Cope With Parkinson’s Disease

While PD usually progresses slowly, eventually daily routines may be affectedfrom socializing with friends to earning a living and taking care of a home. These changes can be difficult to accept. Support groups can help people cope with the diseases emotional impact. These groups also can provide valuable information, advice, and experience to help people with PD, their families, and their caregivers deal with a wide range of issues, including locating doctors familiar with the disease and coping with physical limitations. A list of national organizations that can help people locate support groups in their communities appears at the end of this information. Individual or family counseling may also help people find ways to cope with PD.

People with PD may also benefit from being proactive and finding out as much as possible about the disease in order to alleviate fear of the unknown and to take a positive role in maintaining their health. Many people with PD continue to work either full- or part-time, although they may need to adjust their schedule and working environment to accommodate their symptoms.

Don’t Miss: Pfnca Wellness Programs

What Is The Expected Impact Of This Project

This project will establish palliative care as a core service at Parkinson Foundation Centers of Excellence, consistent with the foundations goals for patient care.

At least 54,000 patients will receive team-based palliative care during the project. All centers have committed to sustaining the program after the project ends. The evaluation will confirm that the program is working as intended at these centers to improve patients quality of life.

Do Symptoms Get Worse

PD does not affect everyone the same way. The rate of progression and the particular symptoms differ among individuals.

PD symptoms typically begin on one side of the body. However, the disease eventually affects both sides, although symptoms are often less severe on one side than on the other.

Early symptoms of PD may be subtle and occur gradually. Affected people may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. Activities may take longer to complete than in the past. Muscles stiffen and movement may be slower. The persons face may lack expression and animation . People may notice that they speak too softly or with hesitation, or that their handwriting is slow and looks cramped or small. This very early period may last a long time before the more classical and obvious motor symptoms appear.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may begin to interfere with daily activities. Affected individuals may not be able to hold utensils steady or they may find that the shaking makes reading a newspaper difficult.

People with PD often develop a so-called parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward, taking small quick steps as if hurrying , and reduced swinging in one or both arms. They may have trouble initiating movement , and they may stop suddenly as they walk .

Also Check: Prayer For Parkinson’s Disease

Funding Support For Early Detection Of Parkinsons Disease

A UNSW Sydney-led consortium has secured a $1.37 million grant from the Michael J. Fox and Shake It Up Australia Foundations.

With early detection, doctors could better manage the symptoms of Parkinsons disease, and potentially slow the progression of disease. Photo: Shutterstock.

A reliable, quantitative, early detection for Parkinsons disease to help doctors manage and slow disease progression has been lacking, but there is hope on the horizon thanks to a $1.37 million grant awarded to UNSW researchers by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research and Shake It Up Australia Foundation.

UNSW researchers will collaborate with researchers from the Garvan Institute, University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne to investigate a much-sought-after early diagnostic test for Parkinsons disease.

A method to detect alpha-synuclein , a promising biomarker for Parkinsons disease, in cerebrospinal fluid the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord was created by researchers from UNSW Medicine & Healths EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science.

Over the next two and a half years, this funding will enable the team to independently test their assay at the four different research sites to ensure that it is specific and reliable. The researchers will use a library of clinical samples from Parkinsons patients and healthy controls to validate their diagnostic test.