The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation was created to end Parkinson’s disease — and in doing so, put ourselves out of business. As Michael himself says, the day Parkinson’s is cured is the day our work is done.
Grounded in Michael J. Fox’s values, we also believe people living with Parkinson’s should play a leading role in the search for a cure. That’s why patients, families and care partners are at the heart of everything we do. Their voices inform our priorities and keep us focused on a single question: What will move the field forward fastest?
The answer is bold science, smart investment and relentless urgency. We commit hundreds of millions of dollars every year to fund the ideas and opportunities most likely to move us closer to better treatments — and a cure.
The need has never been greater. Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest-growing neurological disorder, affecting more than 6 million people today and projected to impact more than 25 million by 2050.
But funding alone isn’t enough.
We bring together scientists, industry leaders, policymakers, clinicians, patients, families and advocates to turn discoveries into real-world solutions. Together, we identify unmet needs, remove barriers, advance policy and speed progress across the field.
Michael has a name for this collective force: Our “Department of Cures.”
How Do We Get to Cures?
We fund the research that matters most to patients, tackle the field’s toughest challenges and bring people together to move promising ideas forward faster.
Guided by optimism, tenacity, collaboration, boldness, adaptability and curiosity, we do whatever it takes to build toward a future free of Parkinson’s.
Our Plan to End Parkinson’s
From the beginning, we believed Parkinson’s could be cured with the right science and enough investment. Today, our ambitious four-pillar Strategic Research Agenda is helping chart the path to ending Parkinson’s through efforts such as:
- Uncovering new insights that show Parkinson’s is not a single disease, but a spectrum of disorders with links to conditions like Alzheimer’s — leading to clearer disease diagnosis.
- Donor support has helped create a robust pipeline of potential therapies, fueled by an anticipated $698 million in Parkinson’s research funding in 2026 alone — more than twice the U.S. government’s investment.
- Breakthroughs in biomarkers and disease biology are opening the door to earlier diagnosis, faster clinical trials and more personalized treatments designed to slow — or even stop — Parkinson’s progression.
- We mobilize patients, care partners, scientists, clinicians, policymakers and advocates to drive change together.
Our Impact
When MJFF launched in 2000, Parkinson’s research was fragmented and underfunded. Treatment options were limited, and no therapy could slow or stop the disease. Today, the field looks dramatically different.
As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, we’ve invested more than $3 billion to accelerate progress, including:
- 24+ FDA-approved medications and surgical interventions helping people manage Parkinson’s symptoms.
- 180+ drugs in active or upcoming human testing, with nearly half focused on slowing, stopping or preventing disease progression.
- 60,000+ participants in MJFF’s Parkinson’s Precision Medicine Initiative (PPMI), a cornerstone of global Parkinson’s research.
- Validation of the breakthrough alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assay (aSyn-SAA), enabling scientists to detect Parkinson’s biology before symptoms appear.
- One of the world’s largest collaborative Parkinson’s research ecosystems, powered by open-access data and resources.
- Major advocacy victories — including support for the National Parkinson’s Project — reflect the growing strength of our community. The Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council now includes 30 partner organizations, while over 137,000 members of our Parkinson’s Policy Network help elevate Parkinson’s priorities with lawmakers.
- Trusted educational resources and programs that empower people with Parkinson’s and their families and connect researchers, including Fox Trial Finder, the Parkinson’s Buddy Network and the Parkinson’s Disease Research Exchange (PDRx).
We’ve come a long way — but we’re not slowing down now. Every advance builds on the last. Every partnership strengthens the field. Together, through our All Grit. No Quit. Campaign and beyond, we won’t stop until we fulfill our promise of ending Parkinson’s.
“The Michael J. Fox Foundation has managed to become, in its short life, the most credible voice on Parkinson’s research in the world.”
The New York Times
Join Us
Whether you’re living with Parkinson’s, caring for someone who is, conducting research or just looking to make a difference, there’s a place for you in this mission.
Donate
Your support helps accelerate better treatments and brings us closer to a cure for Parkinson’s. Support the search for a cure.
Participate
Research needs a vital partner: You. Join a study and help unlock new discoveries and better treatments. Help solve the Parkinson’s puzzle.
Advocate
Your voice is powerful. Join our policy network and tell your elected officials to take action now. Take action with advocacy resources.