The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Representation in Parkinson’s research ensures all people living with the disease benefit from discoveries. In our latest blog, Dr. Erin Foster, co-lead of the BLAAC PD study site at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, shares how the study increases understanding of Parkinson’s disease in Black and African American communities by combining genetics, everyday cognitive insights and community partnership. This Q&A offers a behind-the-scenes look at why inclusive research is essential to advancing equitable care. Read the full blog to learn more: bit.ly/45QR9bG

The Parkinson’s Unity Walk returns to Central Park on Saturday, April 25! Each year, this event brings the Parkinson’s community together for a meaningful day of connection, learning and shared purpose, all in support of Parkinson’s research and policy. This year, our team has thoughtfully worked to debut a refreshed look for the event, including new colors and a new logo inspired by the strength and momentum of our community. While the look is new, the heart of the Unity Walk remains the same. Participants can look forward to engaging programming, a wide range of resources and the opportunity to connect with others during a 1.2-mile walk through Central Park. Registration is now open. Learn more and sign up today. https://bit.ly/45WbxIi

The Michael J. Fox Foundation announces 108 grants totaling $62.4 million awarded in October and November 2025. These grants support the development of tools to detect and measure changes in Parkinson’s disease, novel therapies to treat it and more. 🔗 See how these projects are driving progress: https://bit.ly/3NM28Ne

Parkinson’s IQ + You (PDIQ) is coming to a city near you this year: • Southern Nevada - March 14 • St. Louis - August 15 • Dallas/Fort Worth - September 19 • Washington D.C. - October 24 PDIQ is The Michael J. Fox Foundation's free educational event series, aimed to support people living with Parkinson's and their loved ones. These in-person events feature sessions on navigating Parkinson's, managing care and updates on the latest research. Learn more about the event series: https://bit.ly/4stsQub

Lawmakers need to hear from people impacted by paraquat — a pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease. The federal government is acknowledging the issue, following a recent post from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. But acknowledgment alone is not enough. For over a decade, The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson’s advocates have called for a national ban based on clear scientific evidence. More than 70 countries, including the EU and China, have already banned paraquat, yet it remains in use in the United States. Personal experience plays a critical role in shaping effective policy. If you or someone you love has a connection to paraquat or other environmental exposures, sharing your story can help underscore why urgent action is needed now. Share your story: https://lnkd.in/eV8-hswE

For decades, Parkinson’s disease was defined largely by the symptoms doctors could see. Today, advances in biomarker science are helping researchers look deeper — revealing biological links between Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. Read this article by Joe Nocera, award-winning journalist and podcaster, featured in our Fall/Winter newsletter.

This week, we had the pleasure of participating in the 9th Annual Sachs Neuroscience Innovation Forum and The J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) in San Francicso. At the Sachs Neuroscience Innovation Forum, our Chief Scientist Brian Fiske delivered the keynote address, providing an overview of MJFF’s strategic agenda for accelerating progress in Parkinson’s disease, highlighting how advances in disease biology, biomarkers and clinical infrastructure are reshaping the risk profile for PD drug development, opening the door to more precise and faster clinical trials. We were also proud to have Gaia Skibinski, Director of Translational Therapeutics at MJFF, join the Progress in PD & Movement Disorders panel at the Sachs meeting. The discussion spanned emerging trial endpoints, disease modification versus symptomatic relief, novel therapeutic modalities and what upcoming readouts across PD and related movement disorders could mean for the field. These events provide an invaluable opportunity to engage with industry leaders, investors and partners across the neuroscience ecosystem and to advance the conversations that will help bring better treatments to people living with Parkinson’s. #JPM2026 #Sachs_NIF

Funding Opportunity: Endolysosomal Pathway Targets in Parkinson’s Disease The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) invites investigators from academia and industry with expertise or interest in the endolysosomal pathway to engage in an upcoming funding opportunity through our Targets to Therapies (T2T) Initiative. This initiative aims to expand the pipeline of promising, druggable biological targets to accelerate the development of disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease. MJFF will host a virtual Town Hall on March 25, 2026 to share additional details about this opportunity, including scientific priorities, funding mechanisms, and next steps. Researchers interested in attending the Town Hall are encouraged to register their interest by completing the form below. https://lnkd.in/eKbwYruu

Advancing Parkinson's research means building studies that reflect everyone affected by the disease. Elizabeth Disbrow, PhD, principal investigator of the BLAAC PD study at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, is helping lead a global effort to better understand the genetics of Parkinson's disease in underrepresented populations. "There are so many barriers to genetic research; it's exciting to be part of a global effort to overcome them," she says. "We are learning that there are important genetic differences across racial groups that are key to finding a cure that fits everyone. This unique, large-scale study would not be possible without MJFF, the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) and Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s | ASAP."