Though 2009 may be half over, the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has already given over $1 million in funds through its Rapid Response Innovation Awards.
The goal of the Rapid Response program is to fund research focused on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological disorder. The research funded covers endeavors where preexisting data is small or doesn’t exist.
"Rapid Response enables us to assess the best new ideas in real time, quickly vet their potential, and move the most promising ones to the next level fast," Katie Hood, CEO of the foundation, said.
"This reflects our commitment to keep fresh ideas flowing into the Parkinson’s therapeutic pipeline, as well as our recognition that when great research ideas have to wait for a program deadline, so do PD patients – a status quo we are determined to improve on."
One project selected for the Rapid Response funds includes the work of Dr Curt R. Freed of the University of Colorado. Freed is studying a drug that is already approved for the treatment of kidney diseases and which shows some promise in preventing brain deterioration.
The MJFF sets aside up to $2 million a year for the Rapid Response Innovation Awards. Since its inception, the award program has donated more than $6 million to "high-risk, high-reward" research projects. So far, 20 projects have been funded this year.
The foundation has reported that research indicates at least 1 million people in the United States are afflicted with the disease. That same research estimates that 6 million people across the globe are afflicted.
To date, the MJFF has funded more than $143 million in research about the disease.
