Research Area Position Papers

The Michael J. Fox Foundation's work as the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research puts us at the nexus of activity in the field. The papers in this section illustrate our organizational point of view - informed by the perspectives of our staff, Parkinson's patients, and leading PD researchers from all over the world - on some of the research areas we are prioritizing to help drive development of better treatments and a cure.

Why Clinical Trials

Alpha-synuclein: Unlocking the Secrets of a Protein Implicated in Parkinson's Pathology

The Parkinson's Disease Biomarker: A Critical Missing Link for Understanding PD, Currently Under Investigation by The Michael J. Fox Foundation

Trophic Factors: Specialized Proteins that Nurture and Protect Neurons

Dyskinesia Impact Report

LRRK2: The Greatest Known Genetic Contributor to Parkinson's Disease

Stem Cells 101

Cell Replacement Therapy: A Promising but Unproven Approach to Repairing the Parkinson's Brain