The Parkinson's Foundation is a national organization in the USA that funds research and provides educational resources to Parkinson's disease patients and caregivers. The Parkinson's Foundation was established in 2016 through the merger of the National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. The Parkinson's Foundation has headquarters in Miami and New York City, in addition to 18 chapters throughout the United States.
History
1957–1960s The organizations that merged to create the Parkinson's Foundation in 2016 were both created in 1957. The National Parkinson Foundation was founded by Jeanne C. Levey in Miami and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation was founded by William Black in New York.
The founding organizations funded researchers such as Melvin Yahr and H. Houston Merritt.
In 1965, Parkinson's Foundation funding led to the establishment of the Columbia University Medical Center's basic science laboratories in the William Black Building.
In 1969, Yahr and Parkinson's Foundation colleagues published results of the first double-blind trial of levodopa.
1970s–1980s The Parkinson's Foundation began funding summer fellowships for medical students in the 1970s.
In 1971, Roger C. Duvoisin developed Columbia University's Rating Scale, the forerunner to the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. In the same year, the Parkinson's Foundation and Merck, Inc. funded Dr. Yahr's double-blind clinical trial of carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet), which remains the gold standard therapy for Parkinson's disease.
In the 1980s, the Parkinson's Foundation began investing in movement disorder training fellowships at Columbia University and Rush University.
In 1985, the Parkinson's Foundation established its Centers of Excellence Network, which today consists of 51 designated medical centers worldwide that deliver care to more than 196,000 Parkinson's patients.
1990s–2000s With funding from the Parkinson's Foundation, Duvoisin and his team described the Contursi kindred, the first description of inherited Parkinson's, in 1990.
In 1994, the Parkinson's Foundation joined several other organizations to create a scientific research fundraiser, the Parkinson's Unity Walk.
In 2002, a research team at Columbia University funded by the Parkinson's Foundation found evidence that Parkinson's requires the alpha-synuclein protein, a now well-known hallmark of the disease.
2010s–2020s In 2011, the Parkinson's Foundation launched Moving Day, its signature fundraising walk for Parkinson's.
In 2019, the Parkinson's Foundation launched PD GENEration, a national initiative that offers genetic testing for clinically relevant Parkinson's-related genes and genetic counseling at no cost for Parkinson's patients.
In 2022, the Parkinson's Foundation partnered with Parkinson's UK to establish the Venture Philanthropy Fund, which invests money into Parkinson's disease research.
Research
Clinical studies
Parkinson's Outcomes Project Source:
The Parkinson's Outcomes Project was started in 2009 and as of 2022 remains the largest-ever clinical study of Parkinson's disease. The longitudinal study is executed through the Parkinson's Foundation Global Care Network and monitors the symptoms and quality of life of Parkinson's patients to determine best practices in healthcare and establish standard treatment protocols.
The Parkinson's Outcomes Project found that depression and anxiety are the number one factors impacting the overall health of Parkinson's patients. The study also found that increasing physical activity to at least 2.5 hours a week can slow decline in quality of life.
PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson's Disease Source:
PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson's Disease is a national initiative that offers genetic testing for clinically relevant Parkinson's-related genes and genetic counseling at no cost for Parkinson's patients.
Venture Philanthropy Fund In 2022, the Parkinson's Foundation established the Venture Philanthropy Fund. This fund advances Parkinson's disease research by investing money into the Parkinson's Virtual Biotech Fund, the drug development arm of Parkinson's UK.
Affiliations
Global Care Network The Parkinson's Foundation Global Care Network is a healthcare network that provides care to Parkinson's patients. The network is composed of Centers of Excellence and Comprehensive Care Centers.
A Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence is a medical center with a specialized team of neurologists, movement disorder specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, mental health professionals and others who are up to date on the latest Parkinson's medications, therapies and research. The Foundation has designated 60 medical centers around the world as part of its Global Care Network.
Parkinson's Foundation Comprehensive Care Centers are medical facilities with multi-disciplinary teams providing Parkinson's care. Each center is required to meet care, professional training, community education and outreach criteria.
The Parkinson's Foundation is affiliated with the following institutions: +CountryMedical InstitutionsAustraliaVictorian Comprehensive Parkinson's ProgramCanadaMcGill University Parkinson Program Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia
Toronto Western Hospital Movement Disorders Center
University of AlbertaGermanyPhillips UniversityIsraelTel Aviv Sourasky Medical CenterItaly (Fresco Network)Moriggia-Pelascini Hospital Policlinico of Milan
San Martino Hospital
Santa Chiara Hospital
Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital (Grosseto)
Villa MargheritaNetherlandsNijmegen Parkinson CenterSingaporeSingapore National Neuroscience InstituteTaiwanNational Taiwan University Hospital, Center for Parkinson & Movement DisordersUnited KingdomDerby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Nottingham Kings College HospitalUnited StatesBarrow Neurological Institute
Baylor College of Medicine
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Cleveland Clinic Center for Neurological Restoration
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Corewell Health
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Duke Health Movement Disorders Center
Emory University
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Neuroscience Institute
Hartford HealthCare
Indiana University School of Medicine
Jefferson Health's Comprehensive Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorder Center
Johns Hopkins Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Center
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
Medical University of South Carolina
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Northwestern University Movement Disorders Center
Ochsner Neuroscience Institute
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Other Movement Disorders
Oregon Health & Science University Parkinson Center
Rush University Medical Center
Spectrum Health
Stanford Movement Disorders Center
Struthers Parkinson's Center
The Queen's Medical Center
UNC School of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of California, San Diego Movement Disorder Center
University of California, San Francisco
University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center
University of Florida Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration
University of Iowa
University of Kansas Medical Center
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
University of Michigan Health
University of Pennsylvania Movement Disorder Center
University of Rochester Medical Center
University of South Florida Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
University of Tennessee Medical Center
U of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
University of Utah
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research centers The Parkinson's Foundation has designated five institutions as research centers: Columbia University Medical Center, the University of Florida in collaboration with Emory University, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the University of Michigan in collaboration with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the Yale School of Medicine. These institutions receive $2 million in Parkinson's Foundation funding over four years to further research that advances the understanding and treatment of Parkinson's.
Grants and awards Since 1957, the Parkinson's Foundation has invested more than $474 million in Parkinson's disease research and clinical care.
Awards for institutions The Parkinson's Foundation Research Center designation provides funding for team science at institutions working on a thematic area of Parkinson's disease.
The Institutional Movement Disorders Fellowship provides an institution with the funds to support the two-year long training of an incoming movement disorders fellow.
Awards for independent investigators George G. Kaufman Impact Awards fund projects that are in need of support to impact the Parkinson's community.
Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Awards provide funding to early career scientists to further their Parkinson's disease research.
Conference Awards support the gathering of experts working to address unsolved clinical or basic science problems relevant to Parkinson's disease.
Fellowships and early career awards The Launch Award is an award for postdoctoral researchers who are transitioning to independent research careers in Parkinson's.
Postdoctoral Fellowships are two-year fellowships for scientists who have recently completed their Ph.D. training or neurology residencies.
Visiting Scholar Awards support the travel and housing of scholars while visiting host laboratories that conduct Parkinson's research.
Summer Student Fellowships provide students interested in Parkinson's disease with an opportunity to conduct research through 10 weeks of clinical or laboratory work.
The Melvin Yahr Early Career Award in Movement Disorders Research supports neurologists after residency.
Partnership Awards are collaborative partnerships supporting clinician-scientist training, patient-oriented Parkinson's research and medical student Parkinson's studies.
The Nurse Faculty Award is seed grant funding intended to support Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Scholars.
The Physical Therapy Faculty Award is seed grant funding intended to support Physical Therapy Faculty alumni.
Advocacy The Parkinson's Foundation partners with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to host the Parkinson's Policy Forum. The event brings together community members and researchers for research updates, policy briefings, advocacy trainings and networking opportunities.
The People with Parkinson's Advisory Council is a patient leadership group. The council was created in 2006 and is composed of people with Parkinson's disease and caregivers who serve as advisors to the foundation.
The Parkinson's Foundation Research Advocates program trains Parkinson's patients and their caregivers to collaborate with Parkinson's disease scientists in research. The program was established in 2008 and has trained more than 350 participants.
Programs and services
Helpline The Parkinson's Foundation Helpline is staffed by nurses, social workers and health educators. PD Conversations is an online support network that allows individuals to ask experts Parkinson's questions.
Newly Diagnosed The Newly Diagnosed Kit includes information and resources for individuals who have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Hospital Safety Guide The Hospital Safety Guide provides information and resources to help Parkinson's patients stay safe during hospital visits.
Virtual Education Programming
Care Partner Program