Global Ripple Effects from a Single Action
The Foundation ’ s impact quickly exceeded even Michael ’ s bold expectations . Early partnerships with the National Institutes of Health and dozens of biopharma firms spurred public and private investment in the once-sleepy Parkinson ’ s space .
Deemed “ the most credible voice in Parkinson ’ s research ” by the New York Times by 2008 , the Foundation closed its first decade by launching the Parkinson ’ s Progression Markers Initiative , now widely considered one of the most ambitious and important projects ever undertaken in Parkinson ’ s or across all of neuroscience . By the mid-2010s , MJFF funding had seeded development of hundreds of therapeutic targets and helped bring no fewer than 15 new treatments to market . In 2016 , it integrated the Parkinson ’ s Action Network , taking on the effort to advance Parkinson ’ s public policy priorities — most recently leading to the U . S . House of Representatives ’ introduction of the National Plan to End Parkinson ’ s , the first-ever legislation of its kind in PD .
The Foundation also has worked tirelessly to build a vast and high-quality library of educational resources and supports for patients and families . It has harnessed emerging technology to create appealing and user-friendly digital “ on-ramps ” for volunteers to participate in clinical research and share the lived experience of Parkinson ’ s with researchers to better inform the search for a cure .
37