MJFF PIONEERS “ VENTURE PHILANTHROPY ,” SHARING RISK WITH BIOTECH AND PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS
Having funded research at biotech and pharmaceutical companies since its first funding round in 2001 , the Foundation launches a formal effort to increase industry interest and investment in Parkinson ’ s therapeutic development and help sow seeds of development in the dry Parkinson ’ s R & D pipeline . A new industry-exclusive funding stream , the Therapeutics Development Initiative , is announced , earmarking up to $ 5 million in its first funding round to incentivize pharmaceutical and biotech firms to investigate promising compounds and targets .
DEC | 2007
DISCOVERY OF INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS
In a discovery that will fundamentally change regenerative approaches to Parkinson ’ s and other diseases , researcher James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin , Madison and Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University , Japan discover induced pluripotent stem ( iPS ) cells — engineered stem cells that hold the ability to become other cell types . IPS cells are created when scientists “ reprogram ” a mature cell , such as a skin cell , into an embryonic-like state . These cells have potential both for cell replacement treatment approaches in patients and as disease models that scientists can use in screening new drugs .
APRIL | 2006 7