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Parkinson's Foundation Invests $600K in Innovative Care Grants

The Parkinson's Foundation has recently made headlines by committing nearly $600,000 to support three innovative grant recipients under the inaugural Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards. These grants aim to enhance clinical practices and improve the lives of individuals living with Parkinson's disease (PD).

According to John L. Lehr, President and CEO of the Parkinson's Foundation, this investment reflects the organization’s ongoing dedication to those affected by Parkinson's. The awarded projects will explore cutting-edge care delivery models that include improved health information management and individual mentorship programs, alongside the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence.

Understanding the Grants and Their Impact

The Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards were born out of the Parkinson's Foundation National Roundtable on Care and Innovation convened in the previous year. The Roundtable brought together experts from multiple sectors to establish urgent priorities for those living with PD. The awards recognize clinicians licensed to provide care in the U.S. and underscore their commitment to addressing the pressing health needs of the Parkinson's community.

Grants were provided for projects falling into one of three categories:

• - Care Models: Such as telehealth initiatives and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs).
• - Technology: Innovations including wearables and AI applications.
• - Resilience: Programs focused on nutrition, exercise, meditation, and personal narratives.

The awarded proposals vary significantly. Some examples include an APP navigator designed to assist patients and caregivers, a peer mentorship curriculum, and a virtual smartphone coaching program. These initiatives seek to enhance the quality of care and the overall experience of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Meet the Award Recipients

The 2026 awardees are:

• - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, led by Principal Investigator Nina Browner, MD. Their project titled “Right Care, Right Time APP-Led, Electronic Health Record-Embedded Hospital-to-Home Care Model” aims to ensure that patients experience seamless transitions between hospital and home care.
• - Rush University Medical Center, with Principal Investigator Jori Fleisher, MD, focuses on enhancing patient resilience through a project titled “Adapting a Peer Mentor-Supported Educational Intervention to Improve Resilience and Health Outcomes in People living with Parkinson's Disease.”
• - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center under Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc, FAAN, FANAA, which is developing “Embodied Conversational Agents for Parkinson’s Disease (ECA-PD),” aimed at utilizing AI to facilitate communication and support for patients.

The Vision for the Future

As stated by Sneha Mantri, MS, MD, FAAN, chief medical officer for the Parkinson's Foundation, the Foundation is eager to see how these fresh care delivery models can inform future recommendations for national standards of care. She emphasized the complex care needs faced by those with Parkinson’s and the critical importance of timely and quality care access.

A rigorous peer-review selection process, involving scientific experts and advocates, determined the grant recipients. The awards are named after Paul Oreffice, a passionate advocate and former Chairman of the National Parkinson Foundation, recognizing his contributions to advancing research and care for individuals affected by PD.

More About the Parkinson's Foundation

With a mission centered on improving care and accelerating research towards a cure, the Parkinson's Foundation has been a significant pillar in support of the Parkinson's community since its inception in 1957. The organization has notably invested over $513 million in research and clinical care. To learn more about this year’s grant recipients or discover available opportunities within the Parkinson's Foundation, visit Parkinson.org/ClinicianGrants.

Raising Awareness About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease, the fastest-growing neurological disorder worldwide, currently affects over one million Americans alone. Characterized by motor issues like tremors and non-motor symptoms such as sleep disorders and depression, it presents many challenges. Each year, about 90,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S., highlighting the urgent need for ongoing research, support, and care advancements.

For further inquiries, contact Melissa Nobles Gonzalez at Parkinson's Foundation, phone: 305-537-9134.