Therapeutics Development Initiative 2009 Pre-Proposal Receipt Date: January 20, 2009 – 6:00pm US ETThe Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) announces the launch of its Therapeutics Development Initiative (TDI) for Spring 2009, a funding mechanism to support and stimulate preclinical Parkinson’s disease research at for-profit institutions. This funding program seeks to support preclinical development of Parkinson’s disease therapies which have the potential for fundamentally altering disease course and/or improving treatment of symptoms above and beyond current standards of care. Proposals must focus on key and critical preclinical studies necessary for developing, optimizing and evaluating therapeutic strategies that if successful can move into human testing. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the principal investigator who must be an employee of a for-profit entity. Academic investigators may have an advisory role in the project, but the operational and strategic ownership of the project must reside within the company. Investigators may seek up to two years of funding for preclinical development and testing of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment or prevention of Parkinson’s disease. Please note that pre-proposals are mandatory and will be used to evaluate your proposal’s fit with the stated aims and review criteria of the RFP. All pre-proposals received in response to this program will be subjected to a triage process and only those pre-proposals deemed to be of suitable scientific merit will be invited to submit a full application. MJFF employs an expedited, abbreviated granting mechanism to accelerate discoveries and ultimately translate findings to PD patients more quickly. Conference Call MJFF will hold a 45 minute long conference call on December 16, 2008 at 12:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time to clarify and explain the Therapeutics Development Initiative 2009 program and to answer applicants' questions. To participate in this call, you must RSVP via email to conferencecalls@michaeljfox.org. Participants will receive a reply with call-in details.
While there are no restrictions as to the specific approaches to be studied under this RFP, successful applications are most likely to focus on at least one of the following categories: o Neuroprotective strategies focused on slowing or preventing the process of neuronal death. o Neuroregenerative strategies to restore or replace neuronal function. o Novel drug delivery mechanisms and/or surgical procedures. o Innovative therapeutic approaches to treat the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, including cognitive dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, sleep disorders, or depression among others. o Therapeutic approaches to alleviate complications of PD treatment including dyskinesias, etc.
If you would like to contact the Foundation, please call toll-free at 1-800-708-7644, or contact us by regular mail at the following address: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Church Street Station P.O. Box 780 New York, NY 10008-0780
