The Parkinson’s Foundation has announced an additional $5 million investment to advance Parkinson’s disease research, supporting scientists working to better understand the condition, develop new treatments, and identify ways to reduce environmental risks linked to the disease.
The new funding reflects the Foundation’s continued commitment to improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease while accelerating efforts toward finding a cure. The investment will strengthen research programs focused on medical breakthroughs, scientific innovation, and policy solutions that address factors affecting Parkinson’s risk.
Parkinson’s Foundation Chief Scientific Officer James Beck, PhD, said the expanded funding will help support leading researchers dedicated to understanding the disease and developing new approaches to treatment and prevention.
The funding will support several major research initiatives, including expanded grant programs designed to build a stronger pipeline of Parkinson’s researchers. These efforts include support for innovative foundational and translational research, continued work by promising scientists, and the development of new medications that could help manage symptoms or slow disease progression.
A portion of the investment will also support research into environmental factors associated with Parkinson’s disease. Scientists will examine how substances such as certain pesticides and environmental toxins may affect brain cells, with findings intended to help guide policies aimed at reducing harmful exposures.
The Foundation is also expanding existing research programs, including opportunities for early-career scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and investigators pursuing innovative Parkinson’s research projects.
Among the researchers benefiting from the Foundation’s support is Jane Aldrich, PhD, from the University of Florida. Through a Momentum Award, Aldrich is researching peptides as a potential treatment approach for Parkinson’s disease. Early studies have shown promising results in a Parkinson’s mouse model, and continued funding will allow further development of this research.
The Parkinson’s Foundation said the combination of research investment and policy advocacy remains central to its mission of improving care, advancing scientific discovery, and accelerating progress toward a future without Parkinson’s disease.
