The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) awarded the 2025 Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson’s Research to Bastiaan (Bas) Bloem, MD, PhD, professor of movement disorder neurology and director of the Center of Expertise for Parkinson’s Disease at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
The Pritzker Prize recognizes researchers who make exceptional contributions to Parkinson’s disease (PD) research and demonstrate a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of Parkinson’s scientists.
Bloem is being honored for his pioneering work advancing holistic, person-centered care and research, and for his commitment to collaboration that continues to shape the global Parkinson’s community.
“Professor Bloem has long championed a holistic approach to treating the person, not just the disease,” said Brian Fiske, PhD, Chief Scientist at MJFF. “He’s shown through rigorous research that lifestyle, creativity, and community are essential parts of therapy. His leadership in building collaborative networks and mentoring the next generation has created a legacy that will guide the field for years to come.”
Fiske presented the award to Bloem during MJFF’s Fall 2025 Research Roundtable in New York City, held in conjunction with the Foundation’s annual gala. The event brought together people and families living with Parkinson’s, along with scientists and industry partners, to discuss the Foundation’s research priorities and recent scientific progress.
Over the past two decades, Bloem has become a global leader in Parkinson’s care and research. His studies have shown that non-drug approaches such as aerobic exercise, mindfulness, and creative engagement, can improve brain health and may even slow disease progression. His Park-in-Shape trial demonstrated how home-based exercise can enhance brain plasticity and preserve function, while his ongoing Slow-SPEED study, supported in part by MJFF, is exploring whether early-stage exercise can delay or prevent symptoms.
Bloem also leads the Personalized Parkinson Project (PPP), a long-term study tracking more than 600 individuals with Parkinson’s to advance digital, imaging, and biological biomarkers. In partnership with MJFF’s landmark study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), PPP is helping identify new disease mechanisms and potential drug targets to speed the development of treatments.
In addition to his scientific achievements, Bloem is internationally recognized for founding ParkinsonNet, a network of more than 4,000 specially trained allied health professionals who deliver coordinated, evidence-based Parkinson’s care across the Netherlands. The model has improved outcomes, reduced complications like hip fractures, and inspired similar systems worldwide.
“Receiving the Robert A. Pritzker Award for Leadership in Parkinson’s Research is an incredible honor and a powerful motivation to keep moving forward,” said Professor Bloem. “Our goal has always been to do everything alongside people with Parkinson’s and to keep pushing the boundaries of science, care, and creativity until Parkinson’s stops.”
The Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson’s Research was established in 2011 by Karen Pritzker and her late husband, Michael Vlock, to honor Karen’s father, Robert A. Pritzker, a renowned industrialist and philanthropist who lived with Parkinson’s. The prize includes a $200,000 research grant and is awarded annually by MJFF’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Past recipients include Dario Alessi, PhD; J. Timothy Greenamyre, MD, PhD; Glenda Margaret Halliday, PhD; Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD; and Claudio Soto, PhD.
The award sculpture, designed by artist and Parkinson’s patient Tom Shannon, was presented at the Foundation’s annual Research Roundtable in New York City.