Parkinson's Foundation Announces the "Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards"

Clinically-oriented research grants to advance models of care for Parkinson's

NEW YORK and MIAMI, Sept. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Foundation announced today the "Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards" to fund innovative practices in clinical care that can improve the health and quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Now open to clinicians of all stages, the two-year awards provide pilot funding for clinically-oriented research of new care delivery models for people living with PD.

"People with PD face complex care needs," said Parkinson's Foundation President & CEO John L. Lehr. "The Foundation is committed to identifying and funding innovative practices in clinical care that improve the quality of life for people with PD."

The "Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards" are an outgrowth of discussions at the Parkinson's Foundation National Roundtable on Care and Innovation in Washington, D.C. This convening brought together leaders across many professional disciplines to establish consensus around the most urgent priorities for people living with PD. The awards align with the Roundtable's core themes and will promote forward-thinking strategies.

"New care delivery models created by these awards will allow the Foundation to build an evidence base that can inform recommendations for standards of care nationwide," said Sneha Mantri, MS, MD, chief medical officer for the Parkinson's Foundation. "It is our hope that the awards' findings will also be incorporated into the National Parkinson's Project, signed into law in 2024, and attract further support for improvement in PD care."

The awards are open to all clinicians who are licensed to care for patients in the United States and can demonstrate a significant focus on PD. Physicians must have completed a residency in neurology or be able to justify that the relevance of their training pathway is of benefit to people with PD, while allied health professionals must hold an advanced degree. Applications should fall into one of the following categories identified by the National Roundtable: 

• Care Models (telehealth, APPs, etc.)
• Technology (wearables, AI)
• Resilience (diet, exercise, meditation, narrative)

Applications for the award will initially be screened with a letter of intent that is due October 31, 2025. Proposals deemed meritorious and of interest will be invited to submit a full application due in February 2026, while the award will commence later in the spring. Information on how to submit a letter of intent can be found here.

The "Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards" are named in honor of Paul Oreffice, a visionary leader in American business and a dedicated Parkinson's advocate. Oreffice served on the National Parkinson Foundation board and was Chairman from 2003 to 2007. Aimed at addressing the most pressing healthcare challenges faced by individuals with PD, these awards will reflect Oreffice's commitment to advancing PD research.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions regarding this award.

About the Parkinson's Foundation

The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community. Since 1957, the Parkinson's Foundation has invested more than $474 million in Parkinson's research and clinical care. Connect with us on Parkinson.org, Facebook, X, Instagram or call 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636).

About Parkinson's Disease

Affecting an estimated one million Americans, Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson's and nearly 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa Nobles Gonzalez
Parkinson's Foundation
[email protected]
305.537.9134

SOURCE Parkinson's Foundation