Today The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and Georgetown University announced MJFF is funding a fellowship in the Georgetown Program for Regulatory Science and Medicine for training to optimize clinical trial design and support approval of novel therapies.

Earlier this year MJFF announced the formation of a policy department and formal entry into regulatory and legislative issues that impact development and availability of treatments and access to health care resources. This fellowship will allow one researcher to dive deeper into those issues.

“While momentum grows in improved understanding of Parkinson’s dysfunction and in drug development, it is important to keep pace in regulatory science,” said MJFF CEO Todd Sherer, PhD. “New treatments addressing unmet symptoms and integration of technology in clinical trials present opportunity for coordination with regulators to advance these programs.”

The fellow will direct a research project with mentorship from Ira Shoulson, MD, professor of neurology and director of the Program in Regulatory Science and Medicine at Georgetown and a member of the MJFF Executive Scientific Advisory Board, and from experts in the pharmaceutical industry and the Food and Drug Administration.

Interested researchers can apply by Friday, July 29 at http://regulatoryscience.georgetown.edu/RS-fellowship.