Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Awards Grant to Helsinki University Institute of Biotechnology

October 2006: The Helsinki University Institute of Biotechnology is pleased to announce that Institute Director Professor Mart Saarma and his CNS research group were awarded a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, New York City, New York, USA.

CDNF: a novel conserved neurotrophic factor that protects midbrain dopaminergic neurons in vivo," said Dr. Mark Frasier, Associate Director for Research Programs at the Foundation, in a letter to Professor Saarma. “The committee felt that the experiments proposed will provide useful information on the potential neuroprotective properties of CDNF.”  The grant is administered under the Community Fast Track Program.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research was established by the actor Michael J. Fox in May 2000 after announcing publicly in 1998 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the early 1990’s. The Foundation is dedicated to ensuring the development of a cure for Parkinson’s disease within this decade through an aggressively funded research agenda. The Foundation seeks to hasten progress further by awarding grants that help guarantee that new and innovative research avenues are thoroughly funded and explored, according to the Foundation’s web site (www.michaeljfox.org)

Upon winning the grant, Professor Saarma stated, “Our group is honored to receive this award. We greatly appreciate the ongoing support provided by the City of Helsinki and the Uusimaa region, which made possible the introduction of the Foundation through the City’s consultant, Dr. Philip W. Anderson, President and CEO of P.W. Anderson & Partners, Inc.” We believe that our CNS research team is world class and expect to receive additional research funding for several of our scientific groups from outside of Finland.”

The Helsinki University Institute of Biotechnology celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2004 and has five Centers of Excellence of the Academy of Finland. Approximately 300 researchers and staff focus on studies and graduate degree courses in biotechnology, molecular biology, developmental biology, cellular biology, structural biology and biophysics. (www.biocenter.helsinki.fi)