Policy
break out of that stereotype
and show that there are real
people in their state working
to move Parkinson’s research
forward, and federal dollars are
making that possible.”
PARKINSON’S
COMMUNITY JOINS
THE ACTION
While researchers were
conducting meetings on
Capitol Hill, people with
Parkinson’s and their
families also got involved.
Our nationwide community
sent nearly 2,500 emails to
legislators urging them to
support increased funding for
the NIH and DoD.
“This action was key because
it helped amplify what
the scientists discussed
in their meetings,” said
Thompson. “This ‘surround
sound’ moment signifies
how important government
research funding is to
constituents.”
Going forward, scientists,
patients and care partners
will continue to advocate for
increased federal investments
in Parkinson’s breakthroughs.
“I’ve asked my members of
Congress to tour my lab when
they’re back home in Michigan
so they can see what their
funding helps accomplish,”
said Dr. Patterson. “I look
forward to building on the
great meetings we had in
Washington.”
Explore our advocacy
toolkit to learn how to take
action: michaeljfox.org/
advocacytoolkit.
“It’s Important for Scientists to
Engage with Their Legislators”
When it comes to discovering new Parkinson’s
treatments and a cure, federal research funding is a
vital part of the puzzle. Kim Seroogy, PhD, professor
and former director of the neuroscience graduate
program at the University of Cincinnati, attended
Researcher Hill Day to urge lawmakers to support
this critical resource.
Parkinson’s Research Program allowed him to
pursue an important area of research.
“My colleague, Mary Beth Genter, PhD, and I
received a grant to study the olfactory system
(sense of smell) and Parkinson’s, which is not an
area that’s typically well funded,” he said. “With that
money from the DoD, we are testing a compound
that can be administered through the nose to
prevent the spread of alpha-synuclein protein
clumps to the brain. This could help stop Parkinson’s
progression earlier in the course of the disease.”
“We can’t advance Parkinson’s breakthroughs
without federal research funding because the
government supports projects that nonprofits,
industry and other entities can’t or won’t fund,”
explains Dr. Seroogy. “Importantly, the government
supports many projects to better understand the
causes and mechanisms of diseases, as opposed
to developing new drugs. And the government can
award very large grants to help expand promising
research studies, which smaller organizations aren’t
necessarily capable of doing.”
Explaining why he advocates, Dr. Seroogy added,
“It’s important for scientists to engage with their
legislators and emphasize the critical role the
government plays in advancing research progress.
When it comes to advocacy, you don’t always see
immediate results, but at least you’re at the table,
and you’re taking steps to achieve real progress
down the road.”
In meetings with lawmakers, Dr. Seroogy highlighted
how a grant from the Department of Defense (DoD)
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Spring/Summer 2019