THE FOX
FOCUS
MARK SELIGER
ON PARKINSON’S
S P R IN G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 NE WSL E T T E R
A NEW FUTURE FOR
PARKINSON’S PUBLIC POLICY
BY ALLYSE FALCE
This spring, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and the
Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) announced plans to operate as
a single organization, with the goal of advancing the development of
improved Parkinson’s disease (PD) therapies and ensuring access to
new treatments once they come to market.
“The state of Parkinson’s drug development has changed considerably
over the last decade, and as a result, so have advocacy priorities,” said
Todd Sherer, PhD, MJFF CEO. “As more potential treatments enter
clinical testing, we need an integrated public policy strategy to work
with decision makers who dictate access to these therapies.”
Key staff members from PAN will join MJFF to form the Foundation’s new Public Policy team, which will operate primarily out of
Washington, DC. Ted Thompson, who served as president and CEO
of PAN from 2014 to 2016, joins MJFF as senior vice president of
public policy.
“As we work to speed a cure, we must be equally focused on other
therapies and services that benefit patients living with Parkinson’s
disease today,” said Thompson. “Together we can move the needle on
improved disability policies, better veteran benefits and broad access
to a wide range of health care services.”
An Evolving Landscape
Since MJFF launched in 2000, the landscape of Parkinson’s disease
drug development has evolved significantly. At MJFF’s founding, the state
of Parkinson’s research as a whole lay primarily in basic research —
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e8
IN THIS ISSUE
7 Research Briefs
FDA recommends
approval of PD
psychosis drug, a
new clinical study of
alpha-synuclein and
the next generation of
movement disorder
specialists.
10 Ask the MD
Learn how to
advocate for your
best care, navigate the
Parkinson’s journey and
optimize treatment.
12 The Power
of the Patient
Voice
A Q&A with
Parkinson’s advocates
(and friends) Steve
DeWitte and Israel
Robledo.
16 How To:
Speed a Cure
Karen Jaffe
(Shaking with
Laughter) and Marcia
Guberman (Pocono
Fox Trot) shed light
on hosting successful
fundraisers.
SPRING/SUMMER 2016 1