The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...

 through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. Established by actor Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...

 in 2000, the Foundation has since become the largest private funder of Parkinson's disease research in the world, investing nearly $179 million in research to date. The Foundation's proactive approach to advancing PD science has made it "the most credible voice on Parkinson's research in the world". In 2010 the Fox foundation launched the first large-scale clinical study on evolution biomarkers of the disease with a cost of 40 million dollars in 5 years.

Research Priorities

The Foundation targets underfunded, high-risk, "translational" research—the work of translating basic scientific discoveries into practical treatments with potential to benefit the estimated five million people living with Parkinson's today. The Foundation's research team, drawn from the worlds of both science and business, proactively manages the largest PD research portfolio in the world, prioritizing the most promising ideas and key studies to ensure that they continue on a strategic course forward.

Funding Opportunities

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. The Foundation's four annually recurring Pipeline Programs aim to speed research along the drug development pipeline. 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. Critical Challenges in 2009/2010 include: speeding research on PD genetic targets, LRRK2
LRRK2
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 , also known as dardarin, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the LRRK2 gene. LRRK2 is a member of the leucine-rich repeat kinase family...

 and alpha-synuclein
Alpha-synuclein
Alpha-synuclein is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the SNCA gene. An alpha-synuclein fragment, known as the non-Abeta component of Alzheimer's disease amyloid, originally found in an amyloid-enriched fraction, is shown to be a fragment of its precursor protein, NACP, by cloning of the...

; advancing research on neurotrophic factors
Neurotrophic factors
Neurotrophic factors are a family of proteins that are responsible for the growth and survival of developing neurons and the maintenance of mature neurons...

; 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 is The Michael J. Fox Foundation's grassroots community initiative to help raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's research. Launched in 2006, Team Fox members are running marathons, flipping pancakes, climbing mountains, hosting concerts, golfing for a cure and more.

PD Online Research

PD Online Research is an online community of Parkinson's scientists, clinicians and industry experts who exchange ideas and information in real time. Launched in 2009, PD Online Research has more than 2,000 active members from academic, government, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

Education and Awareness

The Michael J. Fox Foundation publishes a print newsletter, Accelerating the Cure, three times per year as well as a monthly e-newsletter, FoxFlash, to keep supporters updated on Parkinson's research progress. In 2010, the Foundation launched an audio podcast series on Parkinson's science, hosted by KQED Public Radio Host David Iverson. 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.

Fox Shop

Fox Shop is The Michael J. Fox Foundation's online store. Filled with apparel and accessories featuring the Foundation's fox logo, Fox Shop products support The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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