Todd Sherer, Chief Executive Officer of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Named To Advisory Council of Newly Formed National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), has been selected as one of 18 members of the Advisory Council to the newly formed National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The NCATS Advisory Council, whose inaugural meeting takes place today in Bethesda, will provide insight and guidance on policies and procedures to overcome scientific and systemic barriers that slow the progress of research discoveries on the translational path toward practical patient relevance.

Formed in December 2011, NCATS is the first National Institutes of Health institution dedicated to proactively driving translational research through the identification and advancement of innovative drug development, testing and diagnostic tools across all fields of human diseases. 

"Streamlining the drug discovery process from the lab to the pharmacy shelf has been a key focus of our Foundation since inception," Todd Sherer said. "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to gain insight into other diseases while applying learnings from our experience in Parkinson's — all to help propel the drug development pipeline forward for the benefit of every American."

Sherer, who testified before Congress last March on the importance of NCATS' agenda, will serve on the NCATS Advisory Council until 2015. Starting in 2013, the Advisory Council will meet three times a year. Council agendas and meeting minutes will be available on the NCATS Web site.  A majority of the meetings will also be available via videocast through the NCATS Web site.

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 $289 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

For more information on NCATS, please visit: www.ncats.nih.gov

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research