Michael J Fox - Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Pipeline Program (TPP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full RFA before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Pipeline Program (TPP) is The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s (MJFF) flagship therapeutic development funding program designed to accelerate promising Parkinson’s disease (PD) therapies from preclinical development through early clinical proof-of-concept. The program supports both disease-modifying and symptomatic interventions and can also fund biomarker activities that directly inform therapeutic development decisions. Funding is intended to de-risk programs, generate evidence that advances key development milestones, and attract follow-on investment.

Applications begin with a rolling pre-proposal process. For the current review cycle, the application deadline is January 8, 2027 for applicants submitting pre-proposals during the period September 19 – November 27.

Companies developing differentiated Parkinson’s therapeutics with a clear path to a meaningful development milestone over the next 2–3 years should strongly consider this opportunity.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding ranges from $1M to $5M depending on development stage and project scope.

Development Stage Maximum Budget Maximum Duration

Early preclinical discovery $1M 2 years

Development candidate selection $3M 2 years

IND-enabling studies $5M 2 years

Early clinical development $5M 3 years

Final funding decisions may differ from these amounts following reviewer feedback and discussions with MJFF staff.

What could I use the funding for?

MJFF prioritizes pre-clinical and clinical programs that may slow, stop, or prevent disease progression, efforts that address moderate-to-advanced motor or non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s not well-managed by current treatments such as advanced gait disturbances (e.g., balance issues linked to falls, freezing) and cognitive changes. Activities within scope of this program include:

• Pre-Clinical: Identifying, validating and/or developing novel pharmacological and non- pharmacological interventions through pre-clinical development from early screening topre-clinical characterization and testing.

• Clinical: Progressing promising interventions with strong preclinical packages into/through initial clinical assessment exploring pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, safety/tolerability, or early proof of biology and/or clinical efficacy.For novel targets, MJFF is particularly interested in de-risking programs by supporting early proof of concept in patients to gain insight into the therapeutic potential, including exploration of biomarker-based or clinical endpoint-based efficacy.

Any intervention may be considered based on clear patient need, rationale and strong mechanism-of-action understanding. Interventions may be pharmacological (small molecules), biological (biologic, gene therapy) or non-pharmacological including surgical approaches, technology-enabled therapeutics and neuromodulation approaches. Competitive non- pharmacologic proposals will have compelling, existing data from human studies with strong potential for clinical adoption. Applicants may also propose testing of repurposed or repositioned therapies but should propose clear and robust biomarker-enabled testing strategies.

Funding supports therapeutic development activities for Parkinson’s disease across multiple stages of development. Eligible activities include:

• Disease-modifying therapies intended to slow, stop, or prevent PD progression.

• Symptomatic therapies intended to improve quality of life and daily functioning.

• Small molecules, biologics, gene therapies, surgical approaches, neuromodulation approaches, and other technology-enabled therapeutics.

• Repurposed therapies with robust biomarker-enabled and/or clinically meaningful outcome strategies.

• Preclinical activities including hit identification, lead optimization, mechanistic studies, and clinical trial-enabling work.

• Clinical-stage activities evaluating safety, biological activity, and early efficacy signals in people with PD.

• Biomarker activities that support translational readiness, dose selection, patient stratification, mechanism confirmation, and other development decisions.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, MJFF awards offer meaningful strategic advantages:

• Strong Scientific and Patient-Centered Validation: Selection by MJFF signals rigorous scientific merit and strong alignment with patient-driven therapeutic priorities in Parkinson’s disease.

• De-Risking for Follow-On Capital: MJFF explicitly positions this program to de-risk therapeutic programs and catalyze follow-on investment from venture capital, strategic partners, and other funders.

• Access to MJFF’s Ecosystem: Awardees gain access to MJFF’s extensive network of clinicians, researchers, industry partners, patient advisors, and proprietary research tools, datasets, and biosample repositories.

• Enhanced Exit and Commercialization Potential: Government- and foundation-validated programs often command higher valuations during licensing, acquisition, or later-stage financing due to reduced technical and clinical risk.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Pre-proposals may be submitted at any time and are typically reviewed within three weeks. If invited, full proposals are submitted during one of five annual review cycles. Funding decisions are communicated within three months of full proposal submission.

Upcoming full proposal deadlines include:

• June 25, 2026 → Funding decision September 2026

• August 20, 2026 → Funding decision November 2026

• October 30, 2026 → Funding decision January 2027

• January 8, 2027 → Funding decision March 2027

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided directly by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating cures and better treatments for Parkinson’s disease through aggressively funded translational research.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to:

• Industry applicants (biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, or other for-profit companies), or

• Academic teams partnered with an industry collaborator capable of commercial development.

Both U.S. and non-U.S. entities are eligible. The for-profit entity is expected to serve as the primary grantee and commercialization lead.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Successful applications typically demonstrate:

• A strong biological rationale for the therapeutic target, supported by genetic or in vitro/in vivo validation data.

• A clearly differentiated therapeutic approach believed to be superior to existing or pipeline therapies.

• Robust translational biomarker strategies to measure target engagement and mechanism of action.

• Clear preclinical-to-clinical translation potential with a realistic commercialization pathway.

• For clinical programs, a patient-centered development plan incorporating patient input.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

MJFF will not fund:

• Large-scale target discovery efforts (e.g., genomic or transcriptomic screening).

• Target validation using only tool compounds with no path to drug development.

• Reformulation of commercially available drugs via new routes of administration.

• Studies evaluating dietary supplements.

MJFF does not intend to serve as the sole funder and expects applicants to pursue complementary funding sources.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive pre-proposal for this opportunity will likely take 20–40 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

Additional Resources

See Request for Applications Here.