Fall / Winter 2019 | Research 9
South
Korea
China
India
Sudan
Ghana
MJFF is funding a
$5-million initiative to
expand genetic research
in Africa, East Asia and
India to better define
Parkinson’s and point to
new treatment options.
Nigeria
Japan
Taiwan
Vietnam
Ethiopia
Tanzania
uncover new genetic links to Parkinson’s,
which could point to new treatments.
And shared genetic mutations may mean
therapies already in development could
benefit many more people.
Here in North America, another MJFF-
funded initiative, Fostering Inclusivity in
Research Engagement for Underrepresented
Populations in Parkinson’s Disease (FIRE-UP
PD) is a partnership with the Community
Access, Recruitment and Engagement
(CARE) Research Center at Massachusetts
General Hospital. FIRE-UP PD is supporting
community outreach initiatives in Boston,
Chicago, Denver and southern Florida to increase
diversity and inclusion in Parkinson’s research.
Working with community leaders and
organizations, FIRE-UP PD study sites will
develop culturally relevant messaging and
materials driving local populations to enroll in
the MJFF-sponsored Fox Insight (foxinsight.org).
The online study gathers information on medical
history, lifestyle factors and patient perspectives
— from any English speaker worldwide with or
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