Michael J. Fox Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Michael J. Fox Foundation awards grants to scientists and researchers working in translational and clinical projects to keep the Parkinson’s drug development pipeline flowing, and to those that are conducting innovative and potentially high-risk/high reward work.
IP TAKE: It may just be a one-year anomaly, but MJFF has funded far fewer grants recently than it has in previous years. If this pattern holds, potential grantees can expect an increasingly competitive playing field for MJFF funding dollars.
Programs involve a one- or two-stage submission process. In a two-stage process, applicants are required to submit a pre-proposal and, if invited to the next stage, a full application. Requirements for each program vary, so applicants should closely review submission instructions and use proposal templates if required.
MJFF likes to take grantmaking risks, so innovative groups should pay attention. This accessible funder likes to support its researchers and grantees beyond funding; however, its officers are a little harder to get a hold of. Read its grantmaking guidelines closely because this funder has many stipulations and evolving expectations.
PROFILE: Founded in 1998 after actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is “dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today.” MJFF has been reaching out and making connections all through the world of philanthropy and research, in both the U.S. and Canada, where Fox grew up. The foundation states its research grantmaking goal is to “accelerate the best ideas in Parkinson’s disease research toward clinical testing and practical relevance for patients.” In this regard, it places a strong emphasis on finding both clinical and translational research projects in the two key areas of therapeutic approaches and the development of promising tools and resources to help quicken the pace of Parkinson’s treatments. MJFF’s grantmaking comes in several forms: Core Funding, Targeted Funding, Supplemental Funding and Foundation-Driven Initiatives.
Grants for Brain Research and Diseases
The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s funding opportunities for research on Parkinson’s disease evolve from year to year. Current opportunities include the following.
The Lysosomal Biomarkers Program supports research on “biomarkers related to lysosomal function, protein clearance and lipid homeostasis” related to Parkinson’s. Grants are awarded in amounts of up to $350,000.
The Pre-clinical Therapeutics Pipeline Program supports the development of Parkinson’s disease, prioritizing “ambitious an scientifically robust pre-clinical studies” This program provides flexible funding and accepts applications on a rolling basis. Application is open to “industry and industry and academia partnerships.”
The Edward J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders goes to support the training of new clinical researchers in the field of movement disorders and “develop a network of highly trained specialists to be the next generation of leaders in Parkinson's research.” This program awards grants directly to academic centers, who select a fellow to receive the award. The foundation awards eight two-year fellowships in the amount of $180,o00 each.
Important Grant Details:
MJFF’s grants are typically up to $150,000, but the Therapeutic Pipeline program may award grants of $1-2 million. Grantseekers can explore the foundation's funded grants page to get an idea of the types of projects and programs it is interested in.
The foundation accepts applications for the majority of its programs. Grantseekers should check for open funding opportunities, as these evolve from year to year. Deadlines may vary significantly depending on the award.
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