The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Joanie Prentice is a Parkinson's policy advocate who was a full-time care partner to her late husband, Sonny. In our latest blog, Joanie shares how her experience as a caregiver led her to advocate for policy changes — helping to pass the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act and, more recently, the Kentucky Parkinson's registry — to drive better care, research and support for the Parkinson's community. She shares, "We need earlier diagnosis, improved access to care, more movement disorder specialists, lower cost medicines, and respite for care partners, many of whom, like me, drop out of the workforce to care for our loved ones. We need support for research to prevent and cure this disease." Continue reading Joanie's story and sign up to be a Parkinson's policy advocate. https://lnkd.in/eqrXhJJD

In 2024, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research initiated the process of studying aspects of Parkinson’s disease biology that, with additional research, could be honed in on by new drugs. We surveyed scientists all over the world about the most promising targets, biological pathways associated with the disease, for PD therapies that hadn’t gotten a lot of attention and received more than 280 targets. This month, MJFF is convening a series of town halls on five of the most promising targets, with an additional seven in the immediate queue for further exploration. Read our blog to learn more about this new initiative and weigh in on the next wave of targets. Read more: https://bit.ly/4hLVVKL

You could take any two humans on earth and their genetic code will be roughly 99 percent the same — it’s the small differences in code that lead to different experiences and outcomes, including the risk of developing diseases like Parkinson’s. Scientists are learning more about which genetic changes are linked to Parkinson’s disease, revealing important insights into disease biology and progression. Tune into this episode of our award-winning “Parkinson’s Science POV” series, featuring: ? David Kumbroch, MJFF senior science writer ? Brian Fiske, PhD, MJFF chief scientist ? Thomas Gasser, MD, PhD, director of the department of neurodegenerative disease at Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research Learn how researchers are using genetics to better understand Parkinson’s and work toward better treatments for all. https://lnkd.in/ekcSBRhv This episode was made possible by Prevail Therapeutics.

Each day, staff at The Michael J. Fox Foundation pursue a cure for Parkinson’s disease while supporting the needs of patients and families. This film, directed by Nelle Fortenberry, Michael J. Fox’s longtime producing partner and MJFF Board member, is a snapshot of a day in 2022 at MJFF. Watch how our work on that one day came to fruition: https://lnkd.in/grkid_MQ

On Saturday, we kicked off our first Parkinson’s IQ + You (PDIQ) event of 2025 in Central Florida. Over 600 community members — including people with Parkinson’s, care partners and loved ones — came together to learn about managing the disease, explore helpful tools and resources, hear from experts and have their questions answered. A special thank you to Allison Signorelli, our new event moderator, for leading these impactful conversations and helping educate the community at every stage of their Parkinson’s journey. Register for an upcoming PDIQ event in a city near you: https://lnkd.in/eqv9cVdT

A new article collection has launched in npj Parkinson's Disease on AI-assisted identification of novel multimodal neuroimaging markers and underlying mechanisms in PD. This collection explores how AI is revolutionizing early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring in Parkinson's. The collection is now accepting manuscript submissions for a special collection on Parkinson’s disease progression and heterogeneity. From advanced imaging techniques to multimodal data integration, it covers the latest innovations transforming PD management. MJFF's Barbara Marebwa, PhD, Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager and others will serve as Guest Editors for this exciting initiative. We invite all researchers, clinicians and AI enthusiasts to contribute their insights and help shape the future of Parkinson's disease care. Submission deadline: July 13, 2025 Learn more and submit your work today: https://lnkd.in/e_2NMAac

At The Michael J. Fox Foundation, collaboration with leading scientists is essential to driving breakthroughs. Our global network of scientific advisors helps shape and implement our research strategy, ensuring that promising ideas advance toward real-world impact. Each year, we recognize an outstanding advisor whose dedication has significantly contributed to our shared goals. This year, we are proud to present the J. William Langston Award to Ian Reynolds, PhD, president of YaghPenn Consulting BV. Reynolds' dedication to supporting scientific advancement is evident in his unwavering commitment to application reviews and assessments for MJFF programs. Beyond evaluations, he works directly with applicants to strengthen their experimental plans, maximizing their chances of success. We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Reynolds as a member of our advisory team and grateful for his invaluable contributions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eYiJwGBS

Last week, we gathered more than 250 friends and supporters together for MJFF's It Will Take All of Us to Cure Parkinson’s luncheon event in Palm Beach. It was an inspiring afternoon of discussion on today's latest research and care advancements with the support of our special guest 60 Minutes Correspondent and longtime Foundation friend Lesley Stahl and our expert panelists MJFF Patient Council member Allison Signorelli and her husband Michael Signorelli and MJFF principal medical advisor Rachel Dolhun, MD, DipABLM. Huge thanks to our co-chairs, Marlene and Martin Silver and Bonnie and Tom Strauss, our leadership committee and all who joined us for the tremendous support and dedication of moving The Michael J. Fox Foundation's mission forward.

Did you know that smell loss can be one of the earliest signals of Parkinson’s disease, revealing changes in the brain long before motor symptoms begin? Join us for a webinar on Thursday, March 20, at 12 p.m. ET, where our expert panel will discuss how smell is linked to brain health and how people with smell loss can play a critical role in understanding Parkinson’s disease whether they live with the disease or not. Tune in and have your questions answered live: https://lnkd.in/e5gtfGTg

In February 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first adaptive, or self-adjusting, deep brain stimulation (DBS) system for Parkinson’s — the Medtronic Percept. This advance brings enhanced capabilities to the existing Percept system, which was first approved in 2020. It not only senses brain signals linked to motor symptoms, but also adjusts stimulation in response to those signals, in real time, to more evenly control symptoms. The Michael J. Fox Foundation provided funding for the earliest stages of research into this new technology, providing the crucial de-risking support that is the bridge between early research and innovations that improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s. To learn more about adaptive DBS, read our Ask the MD blog: https://lnkd.in/eCTv8KVx