Deadline for Michael J. Fox Foundation Therapeutic Pipeline Program Is Fast Approaching

Program seeks applications from academia and industry by September 12, 2012

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This summer, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) launched a new program for researchers from academia and industry, called the Therapeutic Pipeline Program.  It is designed to integrate three previous Foundation funding opportunities into a single initiative devoted to bringing new Parkinson's disease (PD) treatments to pharmacy shelves, faster.  The deadline for applications is September 12, 2012.   

The Therapeutic Pipeline Program was conceived to streamline the drug development process by asking researchers to present a well-defined plan for driving their therapeutic strategy forward.  Projects can begin at various stages along the pipeline, from pre-clinical testing to the clinic. MJFF is committing up to $10 million to this program this year.

"By identifying roadblocks along the pipeline of Parkinson's disease drug development, and sharing risk with researchers from both academia and industry, we hope to keep promising research moving forward," says Sonal Das, Ph.D., associate director of research programs at MJFF. 

To apply for this program, visit our Therapeutic Pipeline Program Web page, or, to learn more, read this Q&A with Dr. Das.   

The Thereapuetic Pipeline Program is one of the Foundation's annual Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
As the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $297 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. Now through December 31, 2012, all new and increased giving to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, as well as gifts from donors who have not given since 2010 or earlier, will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the $50-million Brin Wojcicki Challenge, launched by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki.

For more information, visit: www.michaeljfox.org; www.facebook.com/michaeljfoxfoundation.

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation