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Key Research Initiatives
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Parkinson's Research

Key Research Initiatives

In addition to funding millions of dollars in research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) spearheads our own key initiatives to advance understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Our landmark programs have changed the landscape of Parkinson's research.

  • Illustrated PPMI logo.

    Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative

    The Foundation's $100-million flagship study aims to gather data and samples over time from more than 4,000 volunteers around the world to advance understanding, measurement and treatment of Parkinson's.

  • Illustrated Fox Insight logo.

    Fox Insight

    In the largest Parkinson's clinical study, MJFF's online Fox Insight, a diverse cohort of more than 30,000 people complete questionnaires and, for some, genetic testing to help learn more about Parkinson's disease.

  • Illustrated Michael J. Fox Foundation logo.

    Fox Trial Finder

    This online tool is designed to connect willing volunteers with the Parkinson’s studies that urgently need them.

  • Illustrated smartwatch with a heart on the display.

    Digital Health

    MJFF is sponsoring and funding data collection through digital tools, such as wearable devices and smartphone applications, to capture a wealth of information on daily life with disease.

  • Illustrated presentation on projector screen.

    Training Next Generation of Specialists

    The Foundation is leading programs to seed the next generation of movement disorder specialists, of whom there are too few to treat the growing number of people with Parkinson's.

  • Illustrated stack of books with a test tube.

    Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research

    Twice a year, MJFF calls for applications to its funding programs, which are the vehicle for quickly directing donor-raised capital to the many promising research studies that need support.

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Read the latest developments in the field’s understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

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Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative

The Michael J. Fox Foundation launched its $100-million flagship study, the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), in 2010. PPMI is now expanding to grow its base of 1,400 volunteers contributing data and samples over time to 4,000 participants at 50 global sites. 

PPMI aims to understand and measure the changes in Parkinson's disease (PD) at its earliest stages — even before motor symptoms appear — and as the disease progresses. The goal is to develop better tests to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and game-changing therapies that may help slow, stop or prevent the disease.

PPMI makes de-identified data and biosamples available to the broad research community to speed breakthroughs. Data has been downloaded more than 6 million times, and the study has received more than 200 biosample requests. With the PPMI data, scientists already have identified predictors of certain symptoms and speed of progression and noted changes in brain scans that may help diagnose or track Parkinson's. The study is also setting the standard for clinical trial procedures and is the basis for other large-scale collaborations designed to learn more about PD.

Learn more about PPMI

 
Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative

The Michael J. Fox Foundation launched its $100-million flagship study, the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), in 2010. PPMI is now expanding to grow its base of 1,400 volunteers contributing data and samples over time to 4,000 participants at 50 global sites. 

PPMI aims to understand and measure the changes in Parkinson's disease (PD) at its earliest stages — even before motor symptoms appear — and as the disease progresses. The goal is to develop better tests to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and game-changing therapies that may help slow, stop or prevent the disease.

PPMI makes de-identified data and biosamples available to the broad research community to speed breakthroughs. Data has been downloaded more than 6 million times, and the study has received more than 200 biosample requests. With the PPMI data, scientists already have identified predictors of certain symptoms and speed of progression and noted changes in brain scans that may help diagnose or track Parkinson's. The study is also setting the standard for clinical trial procedures and is the basis for other large-scale collaborations designed to learn more about PD.

Learn more about PPMI

 
Fox Insight

The largest Parkinson's clinical study, MJFF's online Fox Insight has enrolled a large, diverse cohort of more than 30,000 people — about 80 percent with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 20 percent who are control volunteers. Participants complete questionnaires and surveys on their medical and family history and daily life with disease. This information helps scientists learn more about the Parkinson's experience and patient perspectives and priorities. Knowing more about life with PD and its variability can help researchers and regulators test and evaluate new therapeutic approaches.

The online nature of Fox Insight — formally launched in 2017 — allows people to participate from wherever they are, without traveling to a medical clinic. And the Fox Insight study team is adding more ways to participate remotely. When you join Fox Insight, you may be eligible to receive access to the 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service at no cost, and add your genetic data to the study. Matching your genetic information with your PD experience can help us learn more about the role that genetics plays in disease.

In line with the MJFF open-access philosophy, de-identified Fox Insight data will be available to the broad research community.

Learn more and enroll today.

Visit foxinsight.org 
Fox Insight

The largest Parkinson's clinical study, MJFF's online Fox Insight has enrolled a large, diverse cohort of more than 30,000 people — about 80 percent with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 20 percent who are control volunteers. Participants complete questionnaires and surveys on their medical and family history and daily life with disease. This information helps scientists learn more about the Parkinson's experience and patient perspectives and priorities. Knowing more about life with PD and its variability can help researchers and regulators test and evaluate new therapeutic approaches.

The online nature of Fox Insight — formally launched in 2017 — allows people to participate from wherever they are, without traveling to a medical clinic. And the Fox Insight study team is adding more ways to participate remotely. When you join Fox Insight, you may be eligible to receive access to the 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service at no cost, and add your genetic data to the study. Matching your genetic information with your PD experience can help us learn more about the role that genetics plays in disease.

In line with the MJFF open-access philosophy, de-identified Fox Insight data will be available to the broad research community.

Learn more and enroll today.

Visit foxinsight.org 
Fox Trial Finder

Finding volunteers is often a barrier to the success of clinical trials. Some studies never even get started due to slow recruitment.

Fox Trial Finder is an online tool designed to connect willing volunteers with Parkinson’s studies that are urgently recruiting. Volunteers like you can search studies by geography or other criteria, see a list of studies you may be eligible to join, and instantly connect with research teams through the platform.

Both interventional trials that test new therapies and observational studies that help scientists learn more about Parkinson’s are included in Fox Trial Finder. And people with and without Parkinson’s disease can use Fox Trial Finder to advance research.

Learn more and join a study today.

Visit Fox Trial Finder
Fox Trial Finder

Finding volunteers is often a barrier to the success of clinical trials. Some studies never even get started due to slow recruitment.

Fox Trial Finder is an online tool designed to connect willing volunteers with Parkinson’s studies that are urgently recruiting. Volunteers like you can search studies by geography or other criteria, see a list of studies you may be eligible to join, and instantly connect with research teams through the platform.

Both interventional trials that test new therapies and observational studies that help scientists learn more about Parkinson’s are included in Fox Trial Finder. And people with and without Parkinson’s disease can use Fox Trial Finder to advance research.

Learn more and join a study today.

Visit Fox Trial Finder
Digital Health

Technology is presenting researchers with new ways to monitor and measure disease. Parkinson's — with its variability and movement issues — shows grand potential for use of, for example, wearable devices and smartphone applications. Many questions remain, however, on what tools are best, what data to capture and what can be learned from that information. The Foundation is helping to usher these new technologies into Parkinson's research and provide a clear path for their use.

MJFF is sponsoring data collection through digital tools, such as in PPMI, and funding additional studies to capture incredible amounts of data on daily life and activities with disease. Attracting experts in analyzing that vast amount of data is critical for making meaningful insights into the progression and experience of Parkinson's disease. MJFF hosts data challenges to invite data scientists to review Parkinson's digital health data and create models or algorithms to better understand individual experiences with the disease.

We also have supported studies to test how doctors can use data from a smartwatch to monitor disease and make treatment decisions. A working group of experts gathered by MJFF discusses the challenges to digital health research: How to keep up with the rapid advancement of technology? How to involve regulators, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so they understand how these tools measure disease? Thus, the Foundation plays a unique role in supporting work and uniting key leaders to address these field-wide challenges.
Digital Health

Technology is presenting researchers with new ways to monitor and measure disease. Parkinson's — with its variability and movement issues — shows grand potential for use of, for example, wearable devices and smartphone applications. Many questions remain, however, on what tools are best, what data to capture and what can be learned from that information. The Foundation is helping to usher these new technologies into Parkinson's research and provide a clear path for their use.

MJFF is sponsoring data collection through digital tools, such as in PPMI, and funding additional studies to capture incredible amounts of data on daily life and activities with disease. Attracting experts in analyzing that vast amount of data is critical for making meaningful insights into the progression and experience of Parkinson's disease. MJFF hosts data challenges to invite data scientists to review Parkinson's digital health data and create models or algorithms to better understand individual experiences with the disease.

We also have supported studies to test how doctors can use data from a smartwatch to monitor disease and make treatment decisions. A working group of experts gathered by MJFF discusses the challenges to digital health research: How to keep up with the rapid advancement of technology? How to involve regulators, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so they understand how these tools measure disease? Thus, the Foundation plays a unique role in supporting work and uniting key leaders to address these field-wide challenges.
Training Next Generation of Specialists

A 2014 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of MJFF and AbbVie showed that less than half of all people with Parkinson's disease (PD) have seen a movement disorder specialist, who has additional training in Parkinson's. The survey also showed that people who did see a movement disorder specialist were more informed on the basics of PD and on clinical research opportunities. While these specialists are invaluable to patient care, there are too few of them to treat the growing number of people with Parkinson's.

The Foundation is leading programs to seed the next generation of movement disorder specialists. For example, MJFF has partnered with the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society to lead an annual Movement Disorders School for Neurology Residents over the past three years. The two-day course encourages young neurologists to pursue a fellowship in movement disorders.

Additionally, MJFF sponsors the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders. The program aims to grow the global base of clinician-researcher movement disorder specialists to provide patient care and conduct research that will advance understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Training Next Generation of Specialists

A 2014 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of MJFF and AbbVie showed that less than half of all people with Parkinson's disease (PD) have seen a movement disorder specialist, who has additional training in Parkinson's. The survey also showed that people who did see a movement disorder specialist were more informed on the basics of PD and on clinical research opportunities. While these specialists are invaluable to patient care, there are too few of them to treat the growing number of people with Parkinson's.

The Foundation is leading programs to seed the next generation of movement disorder specialists. For example, MJFF has partnered with the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society to lead an annual Movement Disorders School for Neurology Residents over the past three years. The two-day course encourages young neurologists to pursue a fellowship in movement disorders.

Additionally, MJFF sponsors the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders. The program aims to grow the global base of clinician-researcher movement disorder specialists to provide patient care and conduct research that will advance understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research

The basis of MJFF's strategy to finding a cure and ensuring the development of new therapies is quickly directing donor-raised capital to the many promising research studies that need support. Each year, MJFF calls for applications to its Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research, which are focused on research characterizing promising PD-relevant targets, advancing the therapeutic pipeline, and identifying biomarkers and outcome measures.

Complementing calls for funding applications around more targeted research priorities, these programs for PD research allow the research community to pitch its range of ideas, from better understanding the biology of Parkinson's, to developing and testing new treatments, to measuring disease and therapeutic impact.
Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research

The basis of MJFF's strategy to finding a cure and ensuring the development of new therapies is quickly directing donor-raised capital to the many promising research studies that need support. Each year, MJFF calls for applications to its Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research, which are focused on research characterizing promising PD-relevant targets, advancing the therapeutic pipeline, and identifying biomarkers and outcome measures.

Complementing calls for funding applications around more targeted research priorities, these programs for PD research allow the research community to pitch its range of ideas, from better understanding the biology of Parkinson's, to developing and testing new treatments, to measuring disease and therapeutic impact.