The National Parkinson’s Project is a first-ever federal initiative to prevent and cure Parkinson’s disease, treat its symptoms and slow or stop its progression.
Government to Prioritize Preventing and Curing Parkinson’s
With the leadership of the federal government, a country-wide strategy dedicated to ending Parkinson’s disease has the potential to:
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Dramatically increase federal research funding
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Develop more effective pathways for treatments and cures
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Improve early diagnosis
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Spark new and improved models for patient care
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Create standards and measures to prevent Parkinson’s disease
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Address health disparities in diagnosis, treatment and clinical trial participation
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Enhance public awareness of the disease
Scientists have achieved game-changing breakthroughs in understanding Parkinson’s biology over the past year — including the discovery of a biomarker — bringing unprecedented clarity to where collaboration can be most effective and yield the fastest gains.
Government coordination, investment and attention capitalizing on this moment can do more than ever before to accelerate and bring to market a cure for Parkinson’s disease — and, ultimately, prevent it altogether. This effort also paves the way for international collaboration to speed the global search for cures.
Next Steps for the National Parkinson’s Project
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is tasked with developing and maintaining the National Parkinson’s Project and a supporting advisory council. This process will require input and planning support from government agencies and other stakeholders, including The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF).
Congress will be responsible for ensuring that HHS carries out this initiative. MJFF’s Public Policy team will develop ongoing opportunities for advocates to urge Congress and HHS to effectively implement and resource the Project. Sign up for our Parkinson’s Policy Network to receive timely alerts when your voice is needed most.
When we started the Foundation, we could only dream of the breakthroughs the Parkinson’s community has experienced over the last year, from the discovery of a biomarker to the federal government advancing a plan to end Parkinson’s. I’m endlessly thankful to everyone who has carried the load to get us here.
Advisory Council to Play Key Role in Evaluating Progress
HHS will create an Advisory Council on Parkinson’s Research, Care and Services to:
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evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the National Parkinson’s Project;
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advise the Secretary of HHS on Parkinson’s-related issues and
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provide recommendations for preventing, diagnosing, treating and curing Parkinson’s disease.
Each year, the council will provide a report to Congress and the Secretary of HHS that contains evaluations of all federally funded programs related to Parkinson’s as well as recommendations to improve health outcomes, limit exposures to environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s and reduce the financial burden on patients and the federal government.
The public-private advisory council has not yet been appointed but will comprise members of federal agencies, people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, researchers, clinicians and other experts. While MJFF looks forward to supporting HHS as they select experts from the Parkinson’s community to serve on the council, it will ultimately be up to the Secretary of HHS to determine who will be appointed to those seats.
The council will be co-chaired by Walter J. Koroshetz, MD, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health and David Goldstein, MS, Associate Deputy Director for the Office of Science and Medicine at HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
Extraordinary Nationwide Advocacy Effort Gets Results
To make this initiative possible, hundreds of thousands of patients, families and advocates participated in MJFF's advocacy campaigns to urge Congress to support and pass the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act.
You signed our petitions; used our digital forms to send letters and make calls; joined us for virtual meetings with your congressional leaders; took our advocacy trainings; spread the word on social media and in opinion articles and more. In the end, 215 total senators and representatives co-sponsored the legislation, which was ultimately passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers and signed into law in July 2024.
This law and its resulting initiative are modeled after the successful National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), signed into law in 2011. According to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, NAPA has resulted in “unprecedented federal research funding increases, initiated development of crucial public health infrastructure and improved access to quality care.” The federal government now invests $3.8 billion in Alzheimer’s and dementia research annually, a seven-fold increase since NAPA became law. Read more about NAPA’s achievements to date.
Stay Updated on the National Parkinson’s Project
- Visit this web page and our Public Policy newsfeed.
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Sign up to receive email updates and opportunities to advocate through the Parkinson’s Policy Network.
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Follow our social channels, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Email MJFF’s Public Policy team at policy@michaeljfox.org with any questions.
