MJFF Asks: What are the next practical steps for identifying Parkinson’s disease subtypes that can be useful in guiding treatment and therapeutic development?

What should the next MJFF funding program on PD Subtypes look like?

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is reaching out to the entire scientific community by posting a Request for Information right here on PD Online. PD Subtypes is a 'Priority Area' for MJFF.  What should they do next? MJFF is asking you!

This Request for Information arose from discussion at MJFF’s recent Executive Scientific Advisory Board meeting of the outcomes from the Foundation-supported 2007 PD Subtypes program. Results from the program described characteristics of benign and more malignant forms of PD, findings that are generally in accord with anecdotal reports from experienced clinicians but that have had relatively little scientific validation.

Aside from supporting a massive, time-consuming and expensive prospective observational study, what kinds of studies should the MJFF fund next, and how should they be designed?

For example, can examination of extremes of the distribution of symptom presentation be a way to identify PD subtypes? Should the next study include the broad spectrum of parkinsonism such as Parkinson’s Plus Syndromes and Atypical PD?

Though this is a Request for Information, MJFF does not want confidential information or formal submissions. MJFF wants an open debate and discussion of new ideas about how to continue to investigate PD Subtypes. This is an on-line workshop: all dialog will take place openly on PD Online with participation from all of our members, whatever your field of study.

All responses, inquiries, and conversation must be posted on PD Online here. If you are not yet a member of PD Online Research, please click here to apply for your free membership. The RFI will remain open until November 15, 2009. MJFF will post a summary and conclusions of this discussion in December 2009.