![Foundation Partners with the National Institutes of Health on Critical Biomarker Search](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_xl/public/images/featured/FDA-PD_4.jpg?itok=GuYEkks5)
New study seeks people who have had PD for 5-15 years, between the ages of 55 and 85
Today, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is announcing a collaboration called BioFIND, a multi-site study focused on identifying Parkinson’s disease (PD) biomarkers, critical tools for the development of new drugs. BioFIND will focus on the discovery of new biomarkers, complementing MJFF’s existing Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) which seeks to verify promising biomarker leads. The initiative is being driven by the Foundation and the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Already, progress is being made in the biomarker search: PPMI data is being used by scientists from around the world to validate potential biomarkers identified in the lab, and we’re learning more and more about differences in people with PD and control volunteers who don’t have the disease – vital information to determine who may one day develop Parkinson’s. To date, more than 34,000 data downloads have been made from PPMI by scientists in the field.
Still, the Foundation realizes that it must keep its biomarker search efforts moving forward to provide science with the most shots on goal as possible. BioFIND will help to keep this process progressing: Once discovered through this initiative, new biomarker leads will enter seamlessly into PPMI.
The BioFIND study seeks volunteers who have had PD for at least five years, and for no more than 15 years. They should be between the ages of 55 and 85. The study is also recruiting control volunteers who do not have Parkinson’s.
To learn more about BioFIND, visit Fox Trial Finder.