The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) is the world's largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's disease research, dedicated to finding a cure for PD and developing improved therapies for patients living with the disease. Founded in 2000 by actor Michael J. Fox following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, the Foundation has invested over $1 billion in research to date.
¶ Mission and History
The MJFF's mission is to find a cure for Parkinson's disease through aggressively funded research and to ensure the development of improved therapies for patients living with PD today.
- 2000: Founded by Michael J. Fox following his public disclosure of his Parkinson's diagnosis
- 2010: Launched the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
- 2014: Expanded the LEDA study (Larger Cohort for Exercise Research in PD)
- 2019: Launched the Parkinson's Disease Data Portal
- 2020: Reached $1 billion in total research funding
- 2022: PPMI enters new phase with focus on prodromal and early PD
- 2024: Continued expansion of drug repurposing and clinical trial programs
PPMI is one of the most significant Parkinson's research databases in the world, established to identify biomarkers of PD progression. The study has enrolled over 1,500 participants including:
- Newly diagnosed PD patients
- At-risk individuals (LRRK2 or GBA carriers)
- Healthy controls
PPMI data is openly shared with researchers worldwide, accelerating drug development and repurposing efforts.
The MJFF funds numerous clinical trials focusing on:
- Disease modification — therapies that slow or halt PD progression
- Alpha-synuclein targeting — antibodies, vaccines, and small molecules
- LRK2 inhibitors — kinase inhibitors for patients with LRRK2 mutations
- GBA1 modulators — therapies for patients with GBA1 mutations
- Symptomatic treatments — improved dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic therapies
The MJFF actively supports drug repurposing through:
- Target Validation Programs — De-risking novel targets for pharmaceutical company investment
- Clinical Trial Networks — Infrastructure to rapidly test repurposed compounds
- Biomarker Development — Enabling patient selection for targeted trials
- International Coordination — Aligning global efforts for maximum impact
| Area |
Focus |
| Alpha-Synuclein |
Antibodies, vaccines, aggregation inhibitors |
| LRRK2 |
Kinase inhibitors for LRRK2-associated PD |
| GBA1 |
Gene therapy and small molecule modulators |
| Neuroinflammation |
Microglial and immune targets |
| Mitochondrial Function |
Energy metabolism and mitophagy |
| Neuroprotection |
Synaptic and neuronal survival |
| Biomarkers |
Early diagnosis and progression markers |
The MJFF offers multiple grant programs:
- Therapeutic Pipeline Program — Supports drug development from discovery through clinical trials
- Clinical Trial Planning — Helps prepare for upcoming clinical studies
- Postdoctoral Fellowships — Trains next generation of PD researchers
- Team Awards — Supports collaborative, multi-institutional projects
The Foundation partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to de-risk drug development:
- Co-funding clinical trials
- Providing patient registry access
- Sharing biomarker data
- Supporting regulatory interactions
- Michael J. Fox — Founder and Chairman
- Debi Brooks — Chief Executive Officer (2002-2022)
- Todd Sherer, PhD — Chief Executive Officer (2022-present)
- Katherine S. Hunt, MS — Chief Scientific Officer
The MJFF operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization:
- Total Research Investment: Over $1 billion since inception
- Annual Research Budget: Approximately $100-150 million
- Funding Sources: Individual donors, corporate partners, foundation grants
The MJFF has been instrumental in advancing drug repurposing for PD:
- Identifying repurposing candidates through PPMI data and biomarker studies
- Funding clinical trials of drugs originally approved for other conditions
- Creating infrastructure for rapid testing of repurposed compounds
- Coordinating international efforts to avoid duplication and maximize resources
Notable repurposing efforts supported by MJFF include:
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (originally for diabetes)
- Inosine (originally for gout)
- Various kinase inhibitors
- Anti-inflammatory agents
PPMI is a landmark observational clinical study designed to identify biomarkers of PD progression. The study uses a multi-modal approach:
- Clinical Assessments: Motor and non-motor symptom tracking
- Biological Samples: Blood, CSF, and DNA collection
- Imaging: DaTscan, MRI, and PET imaging
- Digital Tracking: Smartphone-based symptom monitoring
PPMI has yielded numerous important findings:
- Alpha-synuclein seeding: Detection of abnormal alpha-synuclein in CSF
- Genetic risk profiling: Understanding of LRRK2 and GBA carrier phenotypes
- Prodromal markers: Identification of early warning signs
- Biomarker validation: Verification of progression markers
All PPMI data is freely available to researchers worldwide:
- Data Portal: Open access to anonymized datasets
- Biological Samples: Available for request through the biobank
- Analysis Tools: Custom tools for data analysis
- Collaborative Projects: Encouraged through the PPMI network
MJFF has built a global clinical trial infrastructure:
- Trial Sites: Network of academic medical centers
- Patient Registries: Access to well-characterized patient populations
- Outcome Measures: Standardized assessment protocols
- Regulatory Expertise: Guidance for trial design and execution
The Foundation supports numerous ongoing trials:
- Phase 1: First-in-human safety studies
- Phase 2: Dose-finding and efficacy signals
- Phase 3: Large-scale confirmatory trials
Key trial outcomes include:
- Exenatide: GLP-1 agonist showing disease-modifying potential
- Inosine: Urate elevation for neuroprotection
- Nilotinib: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor for PD
- Various alpha-synuclein targeting therapies
MJFF partners with pharmaceutical companies:
- Co-funding arrangements: Shared investment in clinical trials
- Data sharing: Access to PPMI and other datasets
- Regulatory support: Collaborative FDA interactions
- Target validation: Joint de-risking of novel targets
The Foundation supports academic research:
- Research grants: Funding for academic investigators
- Training programs: Fellowships for young investigators
- Consortium work: Multi-site collaborative projects
Global collaboration is central to MJFF strategy:
- International Parkinson's Genetics Project (IPGD)
- Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2)
- Parkinson's Foundation
- European PD Research Networks
¶ Patient Engagement and Outreach
MJFF manages a large patient registry:
- Fox Insight: Patient-reported outcome platform
- Clinical trial matching: Connecting patients to trials
- Natural history studies: Understanding disease progression
¶ Education and Advocacy
The Foundation educates and advocates:
- Provider education: Training for healthcare professionals
- Public awareness: Reducing stigma and increasing understanding
- Policy advocacy: Supporting research funding and access to care
Research priorities are patient-driven:
- Patient advisory boards: Input on research direction
- Quality of life studies: Focus on patient-relevant outcomes
- Caregiver support: Research on caregiver burden and needs
¶ Research Milestones and Achievements
Early achievements include:
- Establishment of research programs
- Initial clinical trial funding
- Creation of patient registry infrastructure
Major developments:
- Launch and expansion of PPMI
- Reaching $1 billion in total research funding
- Multiple clinical trial successes
Current priorities:
- Genetic subtyping of PD
- Biomarker-driven clinical trials
- Personalized therapeutic approaches
The Foundation continues to expand into new areas:
- Gene therapy: AAV-based delivery and gene editing
- Cell replacement: Stem cell and cell-based therapies
- Digital health: Wearables and remote monitoring
- AI/ML: Computational approaches to biomarker discovery
Current strategic priorities:
- Alpha-synuclein targeting: Antibodies, vaccines, and aggregation inhibitors
- Genetic forms of PD: Targeted therapies for LRRK2, GBA, and other mutations
- Biomarker development: Tools for patient selection and response monitoring
- Disease modification: therapies that slow or halt progression
MJFF continues to have global impact:
- Training the next generation of PD researchers
- Accelerating drug development timelines
- Improving patient outcomes through better therapies
- Building international collaboration networks
¶ Award and Recognition Programs
MJFF recognizes outstanding contributions:
- Morris K. Yahr Prize: Excellence in Parkinson's research
- Team Grants: Collaborative research initiatives
- Young Investigator Awards: Support for early-career researchers
Training the next generation:
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: Support for recent PhDs
- Clinical Fellowships: Training for clinician-scientists
- Graduate Student Support: Research experience for students
¶ Governance and Operations
The Foundation is governed by:
- Medical and scientific advisors
- Patient representatives
- Business and financial experts
- Legal and compliance professionals
Leading researchers guide strategy:
- Academic leaders in neurodegeneration
- Clinical experts in movement disorders
- Industry representatives from pharma and biotech
The Foundation maintains:
- Audited financial statements: Transparent accounting
- Efficient operations: Low overhead, high impact
- Strategic allocation: Focus on highest-impact research