What We Fund

What We Fund

APDA has been a funding partner in many major scientific breakthroughs and has awarded more than $60 million in research grants to date.

APDA maintains eight Centers for Advanced Research and individual research grants and fellowships are awarded annually for promising research by experienced and young scientists. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process and reviewed by APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB is comprised of scientists with a wide array of backgrounds and expertise in all areas relevant to Parkinson’s disease research.

Professional Education

APDA provides sponsorship support for select professional education opportunities to foster and encourage the sharing of ideas, knowledge and possibilities among PD professionals.

A proud funder of Parkinson’s Researchers

Available Parkinson’s Research Funding Opportunities

Centers for Advanced Research are located in major academic and medical centers across the country intended to strengthen and help to integrate already existing investigative teams. These Centers receive funding to support large research programs which include: research trainees; fellowship programs; early stage discovery programs and later stage clinical translation. These Centers facilitate research which is at the forefront of investigation into the causes, treatments and ultimately the cure(s) for Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. George C. Cotzias Memorial Fellowship George C. Cotzias, MD was a pathfinder in the pharmacologic exploration of brain functions and in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease with levodopa. His work stimulated much of the current interest and research on neurological movement disorders. The American Parkinson Disease Association has established the Cotzias fellowship, in honor of his memory, to stimulate neurologists to follow his leadership. The goal of the Cotzias fellowship is to assist promising young neurologists in establishing careers in research, teaching and clinical services relevant to the problems, causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and related neurological movement disorders. This is a fellowship is for three years and is not renewable.

Post-Doctoral Fellowships are awarded to support post-doctoral scientists whose research holds promise to provide new insights into the pathophysiology, etiology and treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This is a fellowship for two years.

Research Grants are awarded to investigators affiliated with and performing Parkinson’s disease research at major academic institutions across the United States. This is a grant for one year, renewable.

Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Grant is awarded to support a research scientist studying the health disparities and/or differences among under-studied PD communities. This is a grant for one year.

Read the latest articles on Parkinson’s research

  • APDA Proudly Supports New 2023 – 2024 Parkinson’s Research

    APDA Proudly Supports New 2023 – 2024 Parkinson’s Research

    Exciting New Parkinson’s Research is Underway On September 7, 2023, APDA announced 20 new Parkinson’s disease (PD) research grants, for a total of $1.975 million in funding for the year ahead. Our grant recipients are working tirelessly to understand the complexities of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to develop new treatments and eventually, a cure. We…

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  • Hope in Progress: American Parkinson Disease Association Supports Researchers With $1.975 Million in New Funding

    From understanding levodopa induced dyskinesias to exploring environmental risk factors of PD, APDA-funded researchers pursue cutting-edge studies NEW YORK, NY, September 7, 2023 – The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has just awarded $1.975 million to support innovative Parkinson’s disease (PD) research for the 2023-2024 funding year. The funded research projects will delve into key…

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  • Where are they now? Past APDA Research Grant Awardees

    Where are they now? Past APDA Research Grant Awardees

    Advancing Scientific Breakthroughs and Empowering Parkinson’s Disease Research Since 1961, APDA has been a funding partner in many major scientific breakthroughs and has awarded more than $60 million in research grants to date. APDA awards individual research grants and fellowships to scientists performing innovative Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. Grantees are selected through a competitive application…

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  • Trichloroethylene and Parkinson’s Disease Risk

    Trichloroethylene and Parkinson’s Disease Risk

    TCE and Parkinson’s disease risk Like most chronic diseases, the chance of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) is due to an accumulation of both genetic and environmental risk factors. Researchers are working to identify as many of these risk factors as possible as well as to understand what causes a person to develop Parkinson’s. For many…

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