Objective:
This program will support implementation and evaluation of a Parkinson’s disease (PD) focused Access Advocate model designed to increase inclusive research participation. Funding will support Access Advocates at clinical sites to build practical, relationship based pathways to improving representative research enrollment and retention.
MJFF will prioritize proposals that:
Demonstrate strong PD study volume, including interventional clinical trials, and readiness to support study referrals.
Establish well defined Access Advocate role with appropriate training and supervision.
Implement repeatable workflows for identifying potential participants, assessing barriers, connecting people to resources and follow-up.
Include a feasible plan to track recruitment, retention, and barrier related metrics and site-relevant health system outcomes.
Show Access Advocates' effect on recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups in PD studies.
Commit to participating in cross-site learnings to share insights and improve the Access Advocate model.
Download the program overview for a detailed list of proposal evaluation criteria.
MJFF will NOT consider proposals from sites:
Outside of the US and Canada.
Without active or planned interventional PD clinical trials.
Proposing a model centered primarily on broad community outreach rather than clinic and trial connected access advocacy.
Important notice: MJFF will be conducting two Q&A sessions to answer any questions related to the RFA on:
Monday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m. US ET
Friday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. US ET
To attend an information session, please sign up here.
Please note that MJFF has an Open Science Policy which governs research outputs (such as preprints, journal articles, data, code, and software) resulting from MJFF-funded work. The Open Science Policy applies to this funding program and includes specific rules, timing, and format for the return of those research outputs and requires them to be shared openly, to be free to access, and with persistent identifiers. Please contact openscience@michaeljfox.org for questions about the Open Science Policy.