Michael J. Fox Foundation Announces Launch of PD Online Research

-- New Web-based community will increase collaboration and resource-sharing in
global PD scientific community --

NEW YORK, June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
Parkinson's Research announced the launch of PD Online Research
(pdonlineresearch.org), a resource-rich virtual workplace that MJFF hopes will
become a vibrant Web-based community of PD researchers and funders
collaborating and conversing across the globe. MJFF's goal in developing the
site is simple: quicker knowledge turns and therefore faster progress in
developing transformative new therapies for people with Parkinson's disease.

PD Online is a direct outgrowth of the MJFF's awareness that its own convening
power -- which brings together hundreds of research professionals at scores of
in-person meetings every year -- is in many ways as important to research
progress as is its funding. "Extending the incredibly productive and efficient
interactions we see at our meetings to the Web via a scientific
social/professional network will provide a platform for thousands of research
professionals across the world. It will let them engage daily on key hurdles
and hot topics, hopefully accelerating progress and breakthroughs in PD drug
development," said Katie Hood, CEO of the MJFF.

The site, which has been conceptualized and built by MJFF in collaboration
with Massachusetts General Hospital and the Initiative in Innovative Computing
at Harvard University, is a one-stop shop for both an overview of the state of
Parkinson's disease research as well as deep dives into top therapeutic
targets and technical issues. The Foundation also hopes PDOR will help drive
even better decision-making about PD research investment, helping public,
nonprofit and private PD investors access a larger pool of experts than ever
before, and in the process make smart and timely decisions about the research
paths they choose to pursue.

Key content elements of PDOR include:
-- PD Guide -- a continuously updated Parkinson's disease information
model that seamlessly delivers all relevant information contained
within
the site based on users' paths through the content
-- PD Biblio -- a compendium of PD papers in the scientific literature
annotated with members' commentary and debate on the authors'
assumptions, arguments, and outcomes
-- Virtual Workspaces -- members are free to form or join groups that
serve
as virtual collaboration hubs within a laboratory or institution, or
beyond institutional borders with PD Online members around the world
interested in a particular topic
-- Comprehensive listings of funding opportunities and scientific events
in
PD research and related fields

PD Online Research content is offered as a free resource to the general
public. But since MJFF's primary focus is on building a technical hub for
Parkinson's research, only scientists, clinicians, allied healthcare
professionals directly engaged in scientific research, and investment
decision-makers interested in Parkinson's disease in the public, nonprofit,
and private sectors will have the ability to post directly to the site. Other
interested parties, including people with Parkinson's and their families and
members of the general public, will have the ability to read content and
discussions and are invited to submit ideas and questions about PD science and
therapeutic development to the PD Online team, who will add this input to the
PD Online mix where it can help drive discussion and debate forward.

"PD Online will be successful if we can develop a committed and active
community all tied to the same goal of accelerating a cure," said Gene
Johnson, PhD, chief scientific advisor to MJFF. "But community members really
need to believe in the value of the site not only for the greater good, but
for their own work. We believe this is possible given the quality of the
platform we've developed, and we're excited to see how the community evolves
and speeds progress going forward."

To learn more, visit www.pdonlineresearch.org.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to ensuring the development of
better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for Parkinson's disease through an
aggressively funded research agenda. MJFF has funded over $142 million in
research to date. Learn more at www.michaeljfox.org.

Media Contact: Holly Barkhymer
(212) 509-0995 x242
hbarkhymer@michaeljfox.org

Research Contact: Michael T. Rogan, PhD
(212) 509-0995 x273
mrogan@michaeljfox.org

SOURCE Michael J. Fox Foundation

Holly Barkhymer (Media), +1-212-509-0995 x242, hbarkhymer@michaeljfox.org, or
Michael T. Rogan, PhD (Research), +1-212-509-0995 x273,
mrogan@michaeljfox.org, both of the Michael J. Fox Foundation