The Michael J. Fox Foundation Annual Report 2017 – Roadmaps for Progress | Seite 8

The Michael J. Fox Foundation 2017 Annual Report Roadmaps for Progress Our roadmap approach layers strategic funding and non- financial resources around targets, pathways and symptoms to deepen understanding of Parkinson’s and speed translation. Cohorts All therapeutic development begins with the study of the human disease. MJFF’s extensive constituency comprises more than one million patients, families and supporters — the most active and engaged community in all of Parkinson’s. We leverage this network to assemble and fund cohorts of populations of interest (e.g., those with key genetic mutations, or the newly diagnosed). This work significantly speeds the process of gathering well-characterized data and samples to enable greater understanding of Parkinson’s, new measurement methods and next-generation therapies. The Foundation also is assembling broad cohorts of potential research volunteers mobilized to participate in Parkinson’s studies and trials. 6 Tools Biomarkers Freeing researchers from making their own tools leads to better and faster results. Objective disease measures speed drug development. The Foundation pioneered a new model for creating and distributing critical Parkinson’s research tools through direct funding to contract research organizations and field experts. This innovation has freed scientists and drug makers from years and millions of dollars devoted to tool making so they can focus on driving scientific discovery. MJFF also characterizes the best methods and uses for these tools to encourage replicable research. In the clinic, our recruitment tools and online Fox Trial Finder matching tool help study sponsors enroll volunteers, addressing the systemic problem of slow recruitment. MJFF leads a landmark public-private partnership, among other efforts, to identify and validate candidates for Parkinson’s biomarkers (objective indicators of disease such as blood sugar and diabetes) and develop tests to measure Parkinson’s pathology and symptoms. Toward these goals, researchers are looking at biological factors such as protein levels in addition to phenotypic measures including, for example, eye movement and activity levels (via wearable devices). Objective disease tests would speed drug development by identifying people most likely to respond to treatment, tracking disease progression and assessing therapeutic impact. Biology Characterization of disease is the backbone of all research progress. MJFF funds basic and translational science to identify and characterize disease biology, vital to measure Parkinson’s onset/progression or target the disease with new treatments. Exploring cellular functions, defining protein structures, and studying pathological mechanisms in the presence of genetic mutations tee up field-wide advances in therapeutic experimentation and optimization. The Foundation pumps tens of millions of dollars a year into this critical work. Therapies Transforming early-stage ideas into therapies requires strategy. The Foundation’s donor-raised capital behaves differently from that of commercial or government research funders in that tangible patient benefit is the only ROI we seek. This frees, indeed obligates, us to seek out and “de- risk” pre-clinical therapeutic studies by helping assemble the data required to attract bigger funders who can advance these projects through more expensive later stages of testing. In addition, MJFF funds trials of repurposed drugs approved for other conditions but that have shown evidence in treating Parkinson’s disease. 7