 The Directors of The Michael Stern Parkinson’s Research Foundation note the passing of their chairman and founder, Michael Stern on April 7, 2009. His foresight created the foundation, and we will continue to support his vision. His leadership, guidance, and above all else, his friendship meant a lot to all of us, and we will sorely miss him. His dedication to philanthropic goals has been the cornerstone of many other foundations and an example for all of us to emulate. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, Margaret, Michael Jr. and Margaret Ann.
Click here to sign Michael Stern's Guestbook
Click here to watch Michael Stern's Memorial Service
!["...in a way, signaling in the brain is complicated, and yet on the other hand [it is] beautifully simple. The more we learn, the more complex these pathways are that we have been working on, the more relatively simple principles we find."](http://parkinsoninfo.org/images/examine.jpg) |
Our Mission And Goals
The Michael Stern Parkinson’s Research Foundation sponsors research at leading academic centers in the U.S. The centers are headed by the foremost leaders in Parkinson’s research and were chosen for the high quality of their research programs. Each has already made significant contributions to the understanding of the disease and possible treatment therapies.
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"...in a way, signaling in the brain is complicated, and yet
on the other hand [it is] beautifully simple. The more we
learn, the more complex these pathways are that we have been
working on, the more relatively simple principles we find." |
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-- Dr. Paul
Greengard |
Rockefeller University
The Stern Center at The Rockefeller University
Under the direction of Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, the Stern Center at The Rockefeller University has concentrated their research on discovering why, of the two major populations of dopamine neurons in the brain, one is more susceptible to cell death in PD than the other. Dr. Greengard’s scientist have created a very sensitive method for separating these two types of neurons that has allowed the identification of many differences in their gene function. This is expected to provide new drug targets for the treatment of PD. Drugs that address these targets would have the potential to arrest disease progression.
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Harvard University
At Harvard University’s McLean Hospital, we support the research of Dr. Ole Isacson whose research lab, The Stern Center for Neuroregeneration Research is using gene therapy to protect the most vulnerable neurons in PD models. Through this gene therapy, Dr. Isacson’s lab was able to protect the most vulnerable neurons in PD models. Dr. Isacson’s lab was able to generate neurons from dopamine cells that were transplanted. These scientists also have made significant progress in studying a molecule called G-substrate, a phosphatase inhibitor. In human studies, they have found that transplanted fetal neurons can survive in patients for at least 14 years.
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IND - The Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (IND)
The MSPRF sponsored research at the IND is conducted under the direction of Yale Professors Dr. Ken Marek and Dr. John Seibyl. This lab is developing novel tools for early detection and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease by studying physiologic, biochemical and neuroimaging biomarkers for non-dominergic manifestations of Parkinsonism. The IND has been active in the expansion of Amadeus (American and European Union SPECT Imaging Consortium) to continue the application of rigorous, standardized quantitative neuroimaging technology in multi-center trials to improve diagnosis and evaluate treatments for Parkinson disease and related disorders. They have initiated a multi-site study to develop smell testing and brain imaging as a potential tool for early diagnosis of Parkinson disease.
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About Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s is known to affect about 3% of the population of the U.S.
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The people with Parkinson’s disease who enter the study would receive the same analysis of their DNA as other 23andMe customers, but would pay only $25 instead of the usual $399.
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Parkinson's Video
 With a special interview from our very own Dr. Ole IsacsonMy Father, My Brother, & Me
Brought to you by Frontline
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Board of Trustees
Michael Stern is Chairman and CEO of the
 Michael Stern Parkinson’s Research Foundation...
Other Trustees
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