Supporting Innovative Scientists and Breakthrough Discoveries
The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) proudly announces $4.04 million in new funding for cutting-edge Parkinson’s disease (PD) research – representing a 55% increase in research funding from the previous year. These new awards support a remarkable group of scientists, each dedicated to advancing our understanding of PD and finding innovative ways to diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent the disease.
This impressive amount does not include a new specially-designated allocation of grant funding for recent APDA researchers who lost funding from other sources this year. These researchers applied for APDA bridge-funding to help them continue their critical work and the final decisions on these grants will be announced by early October.
Committed to funding the next generation for Parkinson’s researchers
These grants — including Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Research Grants, and the prestigious George C. Cotzias Fellowship — reflect APDA’s ongoing commitment to funding bold ideas and nurturing the next generation of PD researchers. The research spans basic laboratory discoveries, new therapeutic strategies, and studies designed to improve quality of life for people living with PD.
With nearly one million people living with PD in the U.S. and approximately 90,000 new diagnoses each year (one every six minutes), the need for innovative research has never been greater. APDA focuses on supporting early-career scientists and those new to PD research, giving them the crucial early funding to generate pilot data and compete for major grants from agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
For the sixth consecutive year, APDA has funded a dedicated Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Grant, to better understand how PD affects underrepresented groups and to improve care for people from all communities.
Announcing Grants to Support Social Science
This year also marks the first year of APDA’s Social Science Research Grants, a new funding category designed to support innovative projects that address the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of Parkinson’s disease. These grants expand APDA’s long-standing research portfolio by investing not only in biomedical discoveries but also in the social science approaches that help us better understand patient and caregiver experiences, reduce stigma, and improve quality of life.
All funding decisions are made through APDA’s rigorous, competitive application process overseen by the Scientific Advisory Board – a panel of distinguished experts from across the PD research spectrum. Each grant is evaluated and selected with extreme care, with awards going to only the most meritorious projects.
2025 Funded Researchers
The George C. Cotzias Fellowship
APDA’s most prestigious grant is awarded to a young physician-scientist with exceptional promise who is establishing a career in research, teaching, and clinical care relevant to Parkinson’s. The award spans three years and is designed to support career development and fund a long-range project focused on PD. This year’s awardee is:
Gaurav Chattree, MD
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
Project: Developing Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Pathologic Circuits in Parkinson’s Disease
By pinpointing the specific brain cells that malfunction in PD, Dr. Chattree aims to create targeted therapies that restore function and reduce side effects, addressing both movement and cognitive problems.
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
These fellowships are awarded to support post-doctoral scientists who recently completed their PhD work and whose research holds promise to provide new insights into the pathophysiology, etiology, and treatment of PD. This year’s awardees are:
Sammy Alhassen, PhD
The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles
Project: Circuit Mechanisms of Prefrontal Cognitive Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease Mouse Models
Michael Almeida, PhD
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project: The Role of CHIP Dysfunction in a-Synuclein Pathology: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies for Parkinson’s Disease
Julita Chlebowicz, PhD
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Project: Synaptic Vvesicle Lipid Dyshomeostasis in Synucleinopathies
Matthew Keeney, PhD
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Inc.
Project: Dissecting the Impact of PD-relevant Stressors on RNA-binding Protein Biology in Tractable iPSC Synucleinopathy Models
Nirmal Kumar, PhD
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Project: Synaptojanin-1 and VPS35 Interaction in Presynaptic Vulnerability
Maria Olivero-Acosta, PhD
Yale University
Project: Antisense Oligonucleotide Downregulation of Pathologic circRNA Profiles in SNCA Triplication Midbrain Organoid Models
Letizia Zanetti, PhD
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Project: Investigating Neuroinflammation in a Novel PrknR275W Mouse Model of PD
Aryeh Zolin, PhD
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Project: Trans-synaptic Propagation of Alpha-synuclein Aggregates in Vivo From Genetically Select Neural Populations
Research Grants
These grants are awarded to investigators performing innovative PD research at major academic institutions across the United States. This year’s awardees are:
Jessica Butts, PhD
William Marsh Rice University
Project: Characterizing the Cellular Heterogeneity of the PPtg Using a Novel Marker – Spx
Peter Chung, PhD
University of Southern California (USC)
Project: Exploring the Role of Lipid Droplets in a-Synuclein Binding and Multimerization
Benjamin Clayton, PhD
Case Western Reserve University – School of Medicine
Project: Modulating Pathological Astrocytes to Promote Neuroprotection in PD
Laura Cox, PhD
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Inc.
Project: Investigating Immunologic Mechanisms by Which Alistipes Contributes to PD Pathogenesis
Robert Heuermann, PhD
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Project: Pain as a Nonmotor Symptom in Parkinson Disease: Exploring the Role of the Amygdala
Gary Ho, PhD
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Inc.
Project: Palmitoylation of the Glucocerebrosidase Receptor LIMP2 and Regulation of Alpha-synuclein Homeostasis
Valery Krizhanovsky, PhD
Weizmann Institute of Science
Project: The Role of Senescent Microglia in Parkinson Disease
Zechuan Lin, PhD
Yale University
Project: Translating GWAS Into Target Genes for Parkinson’s
Jonathan Lovell, PhD
The Research Foundation for The SUNY on behalf of University at Buffalo
Project: a-Synuclein Active Immunotherapy With pS129 Nanoliposomes
Mariana Monje, MD, PhD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Project: Elucidating GPNMB Endolysosomal Localization and Implications for Parkinson’s Disease
Abby Olsen, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Project: Validating Ak1 as a Therapeutic Target in a Mammalian PD Model
Abid Oueslati, PhD
Laval University (Université Laval, Québec)
Project: Targeting Early-Stage a-Synuclein Aggregation for Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics
Darci Trader, PhD
The Regents of the University of California, Irvine
Project: Degradation of alpha-Synuclein Oligomers via ByeTACs
John Vaughen, PhD
The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco
Project: Tracking GBA-dependent Lipids in Neurons and Glia Across Circadian Time
Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Grant
This year’s awardee is:
Michelle Fullard, PhD
University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC
Project: Improving Shared Decision Making for Women with Parkinson’s Disease
Inaugural Social Sciences in PD Research Grant:
The very first awardee of our Social Sciences in Parkinson’s Research grant is:
Tim Passmore, PhD
Oklahoma State University
Project: Advanced Recreational Therapy Balance/Fall-Prevention Program for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease in Small Cities
Investing in Innovation: APDA Supports Next-Generation Parkinson’s Research
With $4.04 million invested in this diverse portfolio of projects, APDA continues to push the boundaries of Parkinson’s research. Each of these scientists brings fresh perspectives and innovative approaches, moving us closer to better treatment, diagnoses, and prevention options.
Tips & Takeaways:
- APDA’s commitment to advancing scientific discovery has never been stronger, with a 55% increase in research funding this year.
- New this year, the Social Sciences in PD Research Grants category has been created to support innovative projects that address the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of Parkinson’s disease
- Learn more about APDA’s new grantees and the exciting work they are doing, and browse all APDA-funded research by visiting www.apdaparkinson.org/research.
- Researchers and physicians who are interested in applying for APDA funding can visit www.apdaparkinson.org/research for more information. Letters of Intent for the next grant cycle can be submitted beginning November 2025 with a deadline of January 30, 2026.
- Those who want to support APDA’s critical research efforts with a donation can do so by visiting www.apdaparkinson.org/donate