FROM:
PR Newswire
February 7, 2003, Friday
HEADLINE: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Commits
$2
Million to Study PD Dyskinesia
DATELINE: NEW YORK, Feb. 7
" The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research today
announced that
it has committed $2 million to a new research initiative to study
dyskinesias,
the involuntary, uncontrollable movements that are a frequent
side-effect of
treatment and are distinct from the tremors commonly associated with
Parkinson's
disease.
The presence of dyskinesias is a major limiting factor in achieving
adequate
long-term control of Parkinson's disease symptoms. At present, the most
commonly administered drug to treat Parkinson's symptoms is levodopa
(also
called L-dopa), which helps restore levels of dopamine, a chemical
messenger in
the brain responsible for smooth, coordinated movement and other motor
functions. Yet after 5 to 10 years of treatment with levodopa,
approximately 80
percent of patients will develop uncontrollable movements, or
dyskinesias, a
major source of disability in the their lives. In addition, in cell
replacement
therapy, the development of these same movements, even in the absence of
levodopa therapy (so-called runaway dyskinesias) is now regarded as a
critical
roadblock to that therapy's ultimate success.
"While important progress in understanding levodopa-induced
dyskinesias has
been made, the origin and precise mechanisms of levodopa-induced
dyskinesias are
still a medical mystery," said Dr. William Langston, chief scientific
advisor to
MJFF and CEO of The Parkinson's Institute. "This research initiative
seeks to
build on the knowledge and expertise of neuroscientists and clinicians
to
further our understanding of dyskinesias. There are few breakthroughs
that would
be more of an immediate impact on the day-to-day lives of patients with
Parkinson's disease than finding ways to prevent this often devastating
side-effect of therapy."
"This program is part of our strategy to zero in on areas of
potentially
high-impact research," said Deborah W. Brooks, executive director.
"Coupled
with our just-launched program studying inflammation in Parkinson's
disease, the
dyskinesias initiative reflects our commitment to research than can
quickly
translate into benefits for the approximately one million Americans
living with
Parkinson's disease."
The RFA seeks a broad-based approach to dyskinesias that includes:
understanding the mechanisms that underlie dyskinesias at the molecular
level;
testing the impact of interventions on the neuroanatomical and
neurophysiological substrates of dyskinesias; exploring the mechanisms
of
various subtypes of dyskinesias; developing animal models, and seeking
novel
therapies, both preventive and ameliorative. Researchers should submit
letters
of intent by March 14, 2003, with applications due April 14, 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,
www.michaeljfox.org. Funding of grant awards is anticipated in the fall
of
2003. In addition to funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
Parkinson's
Research, The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation Inc.
provided a $
100,000 grant for this research initiative.
The Dyskinesias 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 .
For more information on The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson
Foundation
please visit http://www.dystonia-parkinsons.org .
SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
CONTACT: Media - Joyce Oberdorf, +1-212-509-0995, ext. 214,
[log in to unmask], or Beth Lambdin, +1-212-509-0995, ext. 230,
[log in to unmask], or Research Contact - Michael Claeys,
+1-212-509-0995
ext. 228, [log in to unmask], all of The Michael J. Fox Foundation
for
Parkinson's Research
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