The Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research aims to find a cure for Parkinson's disease (PD) founded in 2000 by Michael J. Fox. It concentrates on funding research and ensuring the development of improved therapies for people with Parkinson's. History Established in 2000 by Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, the foundation has since become the largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's disease research in the world, with more than $1 billion of research projects to date. In 2010, the Foundation launched the first large-scale clinical study on evolution biomarkers of the disease at a cost of $45 million over five years. Research funding The Foundation works towards "translational" research—the work of translating basic scientific discoveries into simple treatments with definition to benefit the estimated five million people living with Parkinson's disease today. 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: