The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Earmarks $2
Million to Study Role of Inflammation in PD

January 15, 2003

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has
announced a new $2 million research initiative aimed at investigating
the role inflammation plays in the process of nigral cell death in
Parkinson’s disease. In studying inflammation, the Foundation seeks
to build on research for other brain disorders, most notably,
Alzheimer’s disease. To date, there has been little definitive
research performed on the role of inflammation in Parkinson’s
disease.

Inflammation is an immune system response to injury or disease, but
chronic inflammation itself can cause damage to tissues. In
Parkinson’s disease there is evidence of an inflammatory process
(known as gliosis) in an area of the brain known as the substantia
nigra. Still, scientists are not certain whether this observed
inflammation is a cause, contributing to cell death, or an effect, a
secondary response to continuing neural cell death. Recent
observations suggest that neuroinflammation may indeed contribute to
the neurodegenerative process in Parkinson’s disease, similar to what
has been suggested in Alzheimer’s disease.

“Understanding the role inflammation plays in Parkinson’s disease
could be a crucial first step that has the potential to quickly
translate into exciting new treatment options for PD patients, given
the array of anti-inflammatory drug therapies currently on the
market,” said J. William Langston, MD, CEO of the Parkinson’s
Institute and chief scientific advisor for the Fox Foundation.

“While we will continue to pursue promising basic and translational
research as we press for a cure, the Fox Foundation is also stepping
up its efforts to find novel therapies that can quickly benefit PD
patients,” said Deborah W. Brooks, MJFF executive director.

With this program, the Foundation seeks to build on the understanding
of the inflammatory process and expertise of scientists in
Alzheimer’s and related research. This initiative seeks to approach
the issue from multiple angles, including:

Evaluating the prevalence of anti-inflammatory drug usage in relation
to the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in patient populations;

Exploring the inflammatory mechanisms on a molecular and cellular
level;

Identifying immunosuppressive agents that enhance survival of cell
grafts in the nigrostriatal system;

Exploring immune status as a biomarker of Parkinson’s disease
progression through imaging of the inflammatory response.

Letters of intent should be submitted no later than February 11,
2003, with applications due on March 10, 2003. Both should be
submitted by email only to [log in to unmask]

A complete application coversheet and PDF file may be downloaded from
the MJFF Web site at:
http://www.michaeljfox.org/research/fundingopps.php?id=12.

Funding of grant awards is anticipated in the summer of 2003.

The Inflammation program is one element of the Foundation’s research
agenda to eliminate Parkinson’s disease within the decade. At the end
of 2002, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research had
funded more than $17 million in research aimed at finding a cure for
the disease. In addition, the Foundation partnered with the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) on their funding of an incremental $9.5
million in “Fast Track” research projects. In all, The Michael J. Fox
Foundation has stimulated nearly $27 million in new funding for
Parkinson’s disease research.

Founded in 2000, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s
Research has established a strategic campaign to accelerate, expand,
and focus funding of the world’s best research targeting effective
treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s disease. MJFF is dedicated to
pursuing every possible avenue to increase federal funding as well as
to support aggressive fundraising efforts in both private and
corporate arenas to ensure its goal is met. For more information on
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, visit
http://www.michaeljfox.org

SOURCE: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
http://www.michaeljfox.org/news/pressrelease.php?id=42

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