The Michael J . Fox Foundation for Parkinson ’ s Research
+ Since fall 2020 , the Foundation ’ s landmark clinical study , the Parkinson ’ s Progression Markers Initiative , has reopened enrollment of people with and without Parkinson ’ s . To date , about 50,000 people have taken our simple survey to get started at michaeljfox . org / PPMI . Men over age 60 , with and without Parkinson ’ s , are especially needed .
+ In 2020 we launched our Parkinson ’ s Buddy Network , a brand-new way to meet other people and families living with Parkinson ’ s . Browse different interests , find a mentor or simply hear from others about how they are coping , and even thriving , with PD . More than 5,000 people have signed up to date .
+ Our COVID-19 survey , which launched in April 2020 , set out to identify the effects of the global pandemic on Parkinson ’ s symptoms and disruptions in care . In the first month alone , the survey received 7,209 responses from people with or without Parkinson ’ s disease — an incredible 10 survey responses every hour over 30 days — making it the largest data set on COVID-19 and Parkinson ’ s to date . Speaking to USA Today about the survey , lead researcher Carlie Tanner , MD , PhD , reflected on the toll that living through a pandemic — even without catching COVID-19 — took on people with Parkinson ' s , due in part to social isolation and a change in access to many services .
Clearly , MJFF has become a hub for the Parkinson ’ s community — where people turn for information , support , advice and mentorship . The generous support of individuals , families , and The Parkinson ’ s Disease Education Consortium ( PDEC ) — an alliance of biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms – allows the Foundation to provide high-quality educational content
while maintaining our commitment to allocate donor dollars to high-impact research .
In 2019 , MJFF and PDEC partners brought largeformat day-long symposia to local communities around the country . This series of free in-person events , “ Parkinson ’ s IQ + You ” ( PDIQ ), covered every aspect of living well with Parkinson ’ s . Events in Atlanta , Southern California and Phoenix welcomed nearly 2,500 patients and care partners to a conversation on managing the disease and the latest research , as well as access to local resources and clinical trials through a partner expo .
Another vital educational tool , our Third Thursdays Webinar , has become a recurring must-attend event for 40,000 individuals each year . Bringing together Parkinson ’ s experts and people living with PD in a virtual session , topics range from cognition , deep brain stimulation and “ off ” times to environmental cause of PD and making the decision to participate in research .
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