The Fox Focus Spring/Summer 2017

RESEARCH IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY on page 5 FOCUS O N PA R K I N S O N ’ S Mr. Fox and 200 Parkinson’s Advocates Go to Washington by ALLYSE FALCE In February, more than 200 Parkinson’s patient and caregiver advocates from 43 states, including Michael J. Fox, descended on Washington, D.C. as part of the Foundation’s first Parkinson’s Policy Forum (formerly known as the Parkinson’s Action Network, or PAN, Forum). Their purpose: create and deepen nationwide connections within the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community, share and gain insights on policy priorities important to people with PD, and meet with members of Congress to speak out on behalf of the estimated 1 million Americans living with Parkinson’s. In light of policymakers’ ongoing discussions about health care reform and the national budget, the meeting was vital and well-timed. Lawmakers have expressed interest in advancing legislation that could significantly impact access to care as well as federal research funding. And already the House of Representatives has passed a bill to repeal and reform portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). At the time this newsletter went to press, news media were reporting that the Senate will begin the process of drafting its own health care reform proposal in the coming weeks. Debate on (continued on page 8) In This Issue 3 6 10 16 Precision Medicine and Parkinson’s Spring/Summer 2017 Research Briefs Dr. Dolhun Talks PD: Impulse Control Disorders Team Fox Q&A with Olympian Joan Benoit Samuelson Spring/Summer 2017 THE FOX