The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) pursues an aggressive research path guided by top scientists. To do so, the Foundation gathers input from researchers, patients, care partners and clinicians. This frontline intelligence shapes MJFF's strategic agenda based on real-world needs.
Crowdsourcing Drug Targets
MJFF is proud to employ leading scientists in Parkinson’s disease research to carefully guide funding efforts, but the Foundation also uses the collective wisdom of the field to inform its approach.
For example, MJFF launched the Targets to Therapies initiative in 2024, aiming to help develop promising but underexplored biological targets (biology that can be “targeted” for therapies). To get started, the MJFF team asked the scientific community to share ideas about targets that might have potential for Parkinson’s therapies
These initial surveys generated a list of more than 290 targets, including nominations from the survey and stemming from efforts across the field, including from Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative-supported programs including the Collaborative Research Network (CRN), the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) and the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2).
MJFF consulted with leaders in the PD field, including researchers, industry and investment experts, to narrow that list of potential targets to more than a dozen of the most promising candidates, and the Foundation is now convening groups of experts to study these targets in-depth.
“We wanted to leverage the full breadth of the scientific community,” said Shalini Padmanabhan, PhD, senior vice president of discovery and translational research. “Surveys were the fastest way to collect input from a wide swathe of researchers to ensure we had the full picture of potential PD therapeutic targets.”
Connecting with Clinicians
MJFF launched a Clinician Advisory Community in early 2025, aiming to bridge the gap between research and care. The group consists of 100 members from across the United States, including movement disorder specialists (MDS), non-MDS physicians, advanced practice providers, and allied health professionals. Several times a year, MJFF will survey the group to get first-hand perspective on how research is translating to the clinic, as well as related challenges and opportunities.
Clinicians play an essential role in connecting research advancements to real-world application. With recent FDA approvals like Crexont, Vyalev, Onapgo, and adaptive DBS system, their expertise is vital in ensuring patients benefit from cutting-edge therapies, while also informing MJFF about access challenges and care gaps. Clinicians’ firsthand experience in addressing Parkinson’s symptoms such as gait challenges and mood issues offers nuanced viewpoints that could enhance research efforts and patient outcomes. For example, the alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assay (SAA), a biomarker assay validated in 2023, exemplifies research breakthroughs that require clinical insights to determine their potential practical implications and usage.
“Clinicians are an important stakeholder community in the Parkinson’s field,” said Rachel Dolhun, MD, DipABLM, principal medical advisor at MJFF. “We can benefit from their real-world insights and experiences, especially when it comes to recently approved treatments and research breakthroughs.”
Early surveys have explored referral practices for Parkinson’s research studies, with results expected to inform recruitment strategies. For example, the first survey found that the most common reason clinicians give for referring patients to research is inquiry from the patient, but three-fourths of the community noted that less than half their patients ask about research at all. Helping spur interest in the patient community could help with research recruitment.
Upcoming surveys will delve into topics like clinicians’ approaches to Parkinson’s gait issues. By leveraging the collective wisdom of this community, MJFF continues to advance its mission of developing practical and applicable advances in care through research.
Patients and Partners
The foremost experts in Parkinson’s disease are people with Parkinson’s.
“Parkinson’s is a 24/7 disease, and patients see their doctors a few times a year,” notes Maggie Kuhl, vice president of patient engagement at MJFF. “Each individual knows more about their own experience than any doctor or researcher could. Care partners are a close second, getting the firsthand view of day-to-day life with PD. Their input is critical.”
MJFF supports surveys and focus groups to gather input from these groups, which keeps research focused on the most pressing needs. For example, grantees from the University of Rochester recently published an analysis from data collected in our Fox Insight platform on the most bothersome symptoms in early-stage Parkinson’s disease.
Fox Insight, an online clinical study that collects information on the lived experience of Parkinson’s, also recently launched a survey to update numbers surrounding the economic impact of Parkinson’s on the PD community. It will soon be used to recruit participants for another survey that explores preferences for later-stage treatments for motor symptoms (e.g., DBS, infusion pumps). These results can help support treatment decision-making and inform the development of better therapies for Parkinson’s.
Our patient engagement team also connects lived experience experts with industry groups and other partners. Complete the Share Your Story form to raise your hand for small-group opportunities such as focus groups or advisory boards.
In 2025, we’re also conducting short surveys to better understand if or how U.S. federal policy changes may be affecting our patient and research communities. One survey is designed for Parkinson’s patients to share any unplanned changes they’ve experienced in their access to care. The second survey is for MJFF’s research grantees to help us understand if their research projects have been affected. We hope to learn as much as possible so that we can advocate effectively for Parkinson’s patients and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the research environment in which our grantees operate.
If you’re interested in MJFF policy operations, you can sign up to be a part of our advocacy efforts here.
Surveying people with Parkinson’s and the people who help care for them gives a direct line to the priorities and preferences of the community. This is supplemented by intelligence from healthcare providers about important challenges and barriers as well as data collection from the global research community to ensure progress informs more progress.