Parkinson's Disease Foundation Requests Proposals for Conferences Addressing Emerging Issues in Parkinson's Therapy Advancement

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is pleased to announce a request for proposals for conferences addressing emerging issues in Parkinson's disease therapy advancement.

PDF invites scientists, neurologists and members of the scientific community to submit proposals for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per conference.  Proposals can be submitted between Friday, October 14, 2011 and Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

PDF is committed to including the perspective and experience of people living with Parkinson's disease in the research process and highly encourages applicants to incorporate a community engagement component into award proposals.  

Overview and Objectives

As part of its commitment to advance Parkinson's therapies, PDF supports conferences that identify emerging clinical or basic science questions about Parkinson's.  Conference topics should have the potential to advance the field of Parkinson's research and the development of therapies from "bench to bedside."

PDF seeks to support conferences which: 1) identify or define emerging research questions; 2) plan or organize a clinical trial; or 3) standardize research methods. Potential topics are wide‐ranging but examples include the importance of synaptic pathology in Parkinson's gene therapy; selection of standard measures of cognitive function for Parkinson's clinical trials; or establishment of an impulse control disorder rating scale.  Applicants should be prepared to publish meeting results.

Level of Support

PDF has made $45,000 in total funding available with a maximum of $15,000 per award. Multiple funding partners are permitted and encouraged, including contributions from the applicant institution itself. PDF anticipates making regular awards as part of this RFP; consequently, competitive, follow‐up applications may be considered in the future.

Eligibility

This award is open to independent investigators both nationally and internationally, possessing a Ph.D., M.D., or the equivalent.  Postdoctoral researchers and fellows are not eligible for this award.

Application Instructions

All applications must be submitted online through the PDF website at grants.pdf.org; no paper copies will be accepted.  The application period will open on Friday, October 14, 2011.  The submission deadline for this program is 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

All proposals for the Conference Award are peer‐reviewed and competitively ranked based upon scientific merit and their impact upon Parkinson's.  Final decisions are expected by mid‐January 2012. Funding can commence immediately upon award notification.

Applicants can review PDF's application instructions and additional eligibility requirements at grants.pdf.org.  

Additional Information

For more information, visit grants.pdf.org or review PDF's Application FAQ at www.pdf.org/en/grant_funding_faq.   Those who have questions regarding how to best include members of the Parkinson's community can contact PDF at [email protected] or (212) 923-­‐4700.  Points of contact for this award are: Valerie Holt, PDF Grants Administrator and Dr. James Beck, PDF Director of Research Programs.

About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the U.S. and an estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide.  Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's.

About PDF's Research Programs

Central to the mission of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is funding research of the highest caliber to improve the lives of people touched by Parkinson's.  PDF does this by investing in leading Parkinson's research centers; assisting individual scientists all over the world who are conducting pioneering research in its earliest stages; encouraging young scientists and clinicians to devote their talents to the study of Parkinson's; and collaborating with others on novel joint projects to advance Parkinson's therapies.

About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy.  We are working for the nearly one million people in the U.S. who live with Parkinson's by funding promising scientific research while supporting people living with Parkinson's through educational programs and services.  Since its founding in 1957, PDF has dedicated over $90 million to fund the work of leading scientists throughout the world and over $37 million to support national education and advocacy programs.

SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation