Michael J. Fox Foundation Commits up to $10 Million for Pre-Clinical Drug Development Under Therapeutics Development ...( - 2008 program includes special f...),Health

- 2008 program includes special funding track for academic researchers -

NEW YORK, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research seeks applications from industry and academic researchers for its $10-million 2008 Therapeutics Development Initiative (TDI). The program, first launched in 2006, is exclusively focused on stimulating the pre-clinical drug development research required to keep potential new therapies moving forward toward clinical testing -- a key tactic in the Foundation's mission to do whatever it takes to speed development of transformative treatments for Parkinson's disease.

"The development of life-changing treatments requires that basic science discoveries be actively and aggressively pursued toward clinical testing," said Katie Hood, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. "MJFF targets its resources to keep scientific solutions for PD moving toward pharmacy shelves as quickly and efficiently as possible. TDI works at the critical pre-clinical stage to prevent any promising novel treatment approach from stalling for lack of financial resources, expertise or focus."

Years of basic research in cell-based studies and animal models have uncovered numerous promising biological targets that show initial promise to impact the symptoms and progression of Parkinson's disease. But translating these fundamental discoveries into practical treatments requires focused and concerted effort to identify and optimize realistic strategies for eventual human testing.

Originally, TDI was designed exclusively to support and bolster industry-focused efforts on Parkinson's research. TDI is part of MJFF's focus on 'de-risking' preclinical PD research for biotech and pharmaceutical companies, thus expanding and catalyzing industry investments in Parkinson's drug development. By adding MJFF resources to companies' own, the Foundation aims to make Parkinson's therapies a more attractive
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