The Parkinson's Foundation is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease through research, education, and outreach. Formed in 2016 through the merger of the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF), the organization serves over 1 million Americans living with PD and their families.
¶ Mission and History
The Parkinson's Foundation mission is to make life better for people with Parkinson's disease through expert care, research, and education. The organization is committed to:
- Finding a cure for Parkinson's disease
- Improving quality of life for people with PD
- Advancing research toward better treatments
- Providing education and support to patients, families, and healthcare professionals
- 1957: Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) founded in New York
- 1958: National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) founded in Miami
- 2016: NPF and PDF merge to form the Parkinson's Foundation
- 2018: Launch of the Parkinson's Outcomes Project data repository
- 2020: Expanded Centers of Excellence network
- 2023: Over $100 million invested in research to date
The Parkinson's Outcomes Project is the largest clinical study of Parkinson's disease, tracking over 10,000 patients across more than 20 countries.
The project examines:
- Treatment effectiveness
- Quality of life outcomes
- Healthcare disparities
- Caregiver burden
- Long-term disease progression
The Foundation funds research through multiple mechanisms:
- Center Grants — Support for Centers of Excellence
- Innovation Grants — Seed funding for novel research
- Fellowships — Training for early-career PD researchers
- Clinical Trials — Direct funding for human studies
- Drug Repurposing — Supporting trials of existing drugs for PD
The Parkinson's Foundation supports drug repurposing through:
- Clinical Trial Support — Providing infrastructure and patient access
- Data Sharing — Parkinson's Outcomes Project data for repurposing research
- Network Effects — Connecting researchers with potential collaborators
- Advocacy — Supporting regulatory pathways for repurposed drugs
| Area |
Description |
| Disease Modification |
Therapies that slow or halt progression |
| Motor Symptoms |
Improved treatments for movement symptoms |
| Non-Motor Symptoms |
Addressing sleep, mood, cognition issues |
| Biomarkers |
Early diagnosis and progression markers |
| Precision Medicine |
Personalized treatment approaches |
The Parkinson's Foundation Centers of Excellence network includes over 50 premier treatment facilities worldwide.
- Multidisciplinary care teams
- Movement disorder specialists
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Social workers and mental health support
- Clinical trial access
- Research programs
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute (Arizona)
- Boston University School of Medicine
- Columbia University Medical Center
- Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Mayo Clinic
- Mount Sinai Health System
- Northwestern University
- Stanford Medicine
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Florida
¶ Patient Education and Support
¶ Programs and Services
The Foundation provides comprehensive patient education:
- Helpline — 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636)
- Educational Materials — Books, fact sheets, videos
- Young Onset Parkinson's Disease — Specific resources
- Caregiver Support — Programs and resources for care partners
- Support Groups — Network of local support groups
- Patient Congresses — Annual educational conferences
The Foundation trains healthcare professionals:
- Physician Education — Continuing medical education
- Nurse Certification — Parkinson's specialty nursing
- Allied Health — PT, OT, SLP training
- Mental Health — Psychological support training
- John L. Lehr — Chief Executive Officer
- Dr. Michael Okun — Medical Director
- Dr. Brittany N. Duggan — Chief Scientific Officer
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors including patient representatives, healthcare professionals, and business leaders.
The Parkinson's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization:
- Annual Budget: Approximately $40-50 million
- Research Investment: Over $100 million since inception
- Patient Services: Millions served annually
- Funding Sources: Individual donations, corporate partners, foundation grants
The Foundation contributes to drug repurposing in several ways:
- Clinical Infrastructure — Centers of Excellence provide trial sites
- Patient Access — Helpline and support networks connect patients to trials
- Data Resources — Parkinson's Outcomes Project data for target identification
- Network Effects — Bridges academia, pharma, and patient communities
- Advocacy — Supports policy changes that facilitate repurposing