From ; Drug Week via NewsRx.com and NewsRx.net
June 13, 2003
Pg. 82
HEADLINE: PARKINSON DISEASE: Foundation commits $10 million to new LEAPS
research program
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) has
announced a
new Parkinson's research program, LEAPS (Linked Efforts to Accelerate
Parkinson
's Solutions), designed to have a practical impact on lives of
Parkinson's
patients. MJFF has committed a minimum of $10 million to the program.
"LEAPS is an opportunity for scientists to form an "all-star" team to
answer
a major question in Parkinson's science," said J. Timothy Greenamyre, MD,
PhD,
professor of neurology at Emory University and member of the MJFF
scientific
advisory board, who will serve as chairman of the LEAPS advisory board.
While in recent years there has been considerable progress in a number
of
important areas of Parkinson's disease (PD) research, Dr. Greenamyre
noted that
many big questions about the disease remain unanswered. MJFF created
LEAPS as a
new paradigm to jump-start progress through collaborative,
multidisciplinary
research efforts that translate into new treatments or otherwise have a
tangible
impact on PD.
"The LEAPS program is the next step in the Foundation's research
funding
strategy," said Deborah W. Brooks, MJFF executive director. "By providing
multi-million dollar, multi-year grants, LEAPS allows multi-disciplinary
teams
to collaborate on critical "big picture" research questions that can be
addressed more effectively in a team setting than by an individual
researcher
working alone." Ms. Brooks noted that LEAPS would complement the
Foundation's
ongoing portfolio of directive programs and investigator-initiated
grants.
According to MJFF, examples of questions where a LEAPS grant might be
appropriate include: How can we slow or halt the progression of
Parkinson's
disease? How can we prevent or control levodopa-induced dyskinesias?
How can
we use neurotrophic factors to repair the Parkinson's brain?
The Foundation anticipates awarding between two and four LEAPS grants
this
year, with project periods from two to four years. Grants will be awarded
based
on the potential impact and scientific merit of the chosen research
question,
probability of success in developing new treatments or otherwise
accelerating
progress in Parkinson's science, leadership and team track record, as
well as
other criteria.
This article was prepared by Drug Week editors from staff and other
reports.
http://www.NewsRx.net
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