Case studies

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has become the single largest funder of Parkinson’s research outside the U.S. government. It has invested over $150 million in research to date, two-thirds for translational research; funded testing of over 100 therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s Disease; and has undertaken novel industry partnerships to support early-stage promising therapeutic approaches.

The MJFF Approach.
MJFF has developed a targeted approach to research funding that helps identify and prioritize the patient-relevant science that will allow it to reach its goal. 

How MJFF Speeds Progress Along the Therapeutic Development Pipeline.
MJFF is helping to speed up drug development for PD with innovative strategies that identify roadblocks along the therapeutic development pipeline. By sharing the risk of drug development with academic and industry researchers alike, it hopes to increase the movement of new treatments into the clinic.

MJFF Provides Web-Based Community for PD Researchers.
PDOnline is a resource-rich virtual workplace for the community PD researchers and funders collaborating and conversing across the globe. MJFF’s goal in developing the site was quicker knowledge turns and therefore faster progress in developing transformative new therapies for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Coverage of the MJFF Model

The Wall Street Journal: Services Match Patients With Clinical Trials
April 23, 2012

The Economist: All together now
April 21, 2012

Fast Company: Urgency And Optimism: Corporate Culture The Michael J. Fox Foundation Way
Feb. 15, 2012

Philanthropy News Digest: Michael J. Fox Foundation Launches Pilot Partnering Program
Feb. 3, 2011

The New York Times: Marching Through Life With Parkinson's
June 13, 2011

The New York Times: Helping New Drugs Out of Research's 'Valley of Death'
May 2, 2011

Institutional Investor: Disease Charities: The New Financiers of Drug Development
Jan. 17, 2011

BioCentury: Value Addition
Jan. 9, 2011

CNN: Michael J. Fox on Parkinson's and Life
Sept. 29, 2010

Chronicle of Philanthropy: Charities Move Into Role Traditionally Held by Drug Companies (subscription required)
Feb. 7, 2010

The New York Times: Taking Science Personally
Nov. 10, 2008

Katie Hood on Huffington Post