Executive Summary
The Michael J. Fox Foundation funds companies that develop, validate and scale fluid and imaging biomarker tools for Parkinson's clinical trials. Pre-proposals are accepted any time; invited full proposals are due Feb 18, Apr 22, Jun 24 or Aug 26, 2027. Funding runs up to 24 months.
The Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Innovation and Advancement Program is open to biotech, biopharma, diagnostic and imaging companies, CROs and some academic-industry partnerships. No dollar amount is posted: support is sized to the work proposed, and invited applicants discuss budgets with MJFF staff.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Funder: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF)
- Opportunity: Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Innovation and Advancement Program
- Award type: Foundation research funding, up to 24 months
- Funding: No amount posted; budgets match scope and stage
- Entry point: Rolling pre-proposal in the MJFF Grant Portal (initial review in about 3 weeks)
- Full proposals (by invitation): Feb 18, Apr 22, Jun 24 and Aug 26, 2027
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the February 18, 2027 round.
What Is the MJFF Biomarker Program?
It is MJFF's funding route for turning promising Parkinson's biomarkers into validated, fit-for-purpose tools that trial sponsors and the wider research community can use, each with a defined context of use and a path to commercialization or research access.
What Problem Is MJFF Trying to Solve?
Parkinson's trials need reliable ways to diagnose, stratify and track patients. Many biomarker assays stay in research labs because no one funds the validation and scale-up that trials require.
Priority Capability Areas: What MJFF Is Looking For
- Fluid biomarkers: assays developed, validated and scaled for clinical trial use
- Imaging biomarkers: imaging tools with a defined context of use
- Access: a path to commercialization or broad research-community access
Eligibility
- Who can apply: biotech, biopharma, diagnostic and imaging companies, CROs, and some academic-industry partnerships.
- Academic-led teams: academic-only applications are not eligible; if an academic or nonprofit leads, the commercial assay platform provider must have a substantive role.
- Out of scope: preclinical-only work, digital tools and wearables, and companies testing biomarkers inside their own trials (those go to MJFF's Therapeutics Pipeline Program).
How to Apply
- Submit a pre-proposal through the MJFF Grant Portal at any time.
- Wait for review: MJFF aims to complete initial review in about 3 weeks.
- If invited, submit a full proposal by the next round date: Feb 18, Apr 22, Jun 24 or Aug 26, 2027.
What Happens After You Submit?
- Feb 18, 2027 round: awards expected May 2027.
- Apr 22 round: July 2027. Jun 24 round: September 2027. Aug 26 round: November 2027.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits companies with a Parkinson's fluid or imaging assay that already works in research and now needs validation and scale for clinical trials. Digital and wearable tools are not a fit for this program.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For foundation programs like the MJFF biomarker program, we help you:
- Define a clear context of use for your biomarker
- Write a pre-proposal that earns the full-proposal invitation
- Lay out the validation and scale-up plan reviewers look for
- Shape the path to commercialization or research access
- Build the full proposal and budget if you are invited
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a deadline?
Pre-proposals are rolling. Invited full proposals are due Feb 18, Apr 22, Jun 24 or Aug 26, 2027.
How much funding is available?
No amount is posted. MJFF sizes support to the work proposed and discusses budgets with invited applicants.
How long can a project run?
Up to 24 months.
Can a startup apply?
Yes. The program is open to biotech, biopharma, diagnostic and imaging companies and CROs.
Can a university lead?
Only with a commercial assay platform provider in a substantive role. Academic-only applications are not eligible.
Are digital tools or wearables eligible?
No. Digital tools and wearables are out of scope for this program.
How fast is the pre-proposal review?
MJFF aims to complete the initial review in about 3 weeks.
Can BW&CO help with an MJFF submission?
Yes. We can help you frame the context of use and write the pre-proposal and full proposal. Book a call with our team.
Source: The Michael J. Fox Foundation: Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Innovation and Advancement Program