## Breadcrumb

- [Home](/)
- [Advancing Research](/advancing-research)
 
  ## Breadcrumb

- [Home](/)
- [Advancing Research](/advancing-research)
 
 #  Finding A Cure 

 Parkinson's research can lead us to breakthroughs in treatment and care at any moment.

 

 

 

 ![Two women studying research](/sites/default/files/styles/1902x600/public/images/findingacure.jpg?h=36f634a6&itok=SxZnjVoS)  

 

    IN THIS SECTIONIN THIS SECTION

- [Understanding Parkinson’s](/understanding-parkinsons) View Menu 
    
    
    - [Understanding Parkinson’s](/understanding-parkinsons)
    - [What is Parkinson's?](/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons)
    - [10 Early Signs](/understanding-parkinsons/10-early-signs)
    - [Causes](/understanding-parkinsons/causes)
    - [Movement Symptoms](/understanding-parkinsons/movement-symptoms)
    - [Non-Movement Symptoms](/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms)
    - [Getting Diagnosed](/understanding-parkinsons/getting-diagnosed)
    - [Statistics](/understanding-parkinsons/statistics)
- [Living with Parkinson’s](/living-with-parkinsons) View Menu 
    
    
    - [Living With Parkinson’s](/living-with-parkinsons)
    - [New to Parkinson's](/living-with-parkinsons/new-to-parkinsons)
    - [Our Care Programs](/living-with-parkinsons/care-programs)
    - [Finding Care](/living-with-parkinsons/finding-care)
    - [Treatment](/living-with-parkinsons/treatment)
    - [Management & Lifestyle](/living-with-parkinsons/management)
    - [Emotional & Mental Health](/living-with-parkinsons/emotional-mental-health)
    - [Legal, Financial & Insurance](/living-with-parkinsons/legal-financial)
    - [My PD Story](/living-with-parkinsons/stories)
- [Resources & Support](/resources-support) View Menu 
    
    
    - [Resources & Support](/resources-support)
    - [Helpline](/resources-support/helpline)
    - [In Your Area](/your-area)
    - [PD Library](/resources-support/pd-library)
    - [Hospital Safety Guide](/resources-support/hospital-safety-guide)
    - [Online Education](/resources-support/online-education)
    - [Events](/resources-support/events)
    - [Community Grants](/resources-support/community-grants)
    - [For Care Partners](/resources-support/carepartners)
    - [For Professionals](/resources-support/professionals)
    - [Find Your Chapter](/resources-support/find-your-chapter)
    - [Blog](/resources-support/blog)
- [Advancing Research](/advancing-research) View Menu 
    
    
    - [Advancing Research](/advancing-research)
    - [Finding A Cure](/advancing-research/finding-cure)
    - [Our Research](/advancing-research/our-research)
    - [Understanding Research](/advancing-research/understanding-research)
    - [Join A Study](/advancing-research/join-study)
    - [Advocate for Research](/advancing-research/advocate-research)
    - [For Researchers](/advancing-research/for-researchers)
    - [Drug Discovery and Development](/advancing-research/parkinsons-drug-discovery)
- [How You Can Help](/how-to-help) View Menu 
    
    
    - [How You Can Help](/how-to-help)
    - [Donate Now](/how-to-help/donate)
    - [Why Support Us](/how-to-help/why-support-us)
    - [Make a Tribute Gift](/how-to-help/tribute)
    - [Fundraise](/how-to-help/fundraise)
    - [Volunteer](/how-to-help/volunteer)
    - [Corporate Sponsors](/how-to-help/corporate-sponsors)
    - [Planned Giving](/how-to-help/more-ways-to-give/planned-giving)
    - [More Ways to Give](/how-to-help/more-ways-to-give)
    - [Policy & Advocacy](/how-to-help/policy-advocacy-priorities)
 
 

  ## 💡 Quick Summary 

 - Since 1957, the Parkinson’s Foundation has invested more than $510 million in Parkinson’s research and care.
- We fund top neuroscience investigators and initiatives such as [PD GENEration](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration "PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation") and drug discovery and development to accelerate new treatments and build the groundwork for a cure.
- Our research initiatives unite researchers, clinicians and the PD community to drive studies that improve quality of life, advance scientific progress and bring us closer to finding a cure.

 

 Breakthrough scientific research that improves care for everyone living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and builds the groundwork for a cure is at the heart of the Parkinson's Foundation mission.

### Changing the Course of Parkinson's

As a world-leading Parkinson's research supporter since 1957, trailblazing [discoveries](/advancing-research/finding-cure/research-milestones "Research Milestones") — aimed at easing, curing and preventing the disease — drive us forward. While the cause of Parkinson's is still unknown, through a history of strategic research and care investments of more than $510 million, we steer transformative progress to help uncover the mystery of this disease.

Parkinson’s Foundation research funding has led to breakthroughs, including:

- The discovery of alpha-synuclein — the first gene associated with Parkinson's.
- The first standard tools to measure Parkinson's progression — the Hoehn and Yahr scale.
- Publishing the first double-blind clinical trial of carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet®) in collaboration with Merck, Inc.
- Developing the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, now widely used in PD research and clinical trials.

The PD community continues to fuel the Foundation's growth. By donating to the Parkinson's Foundation, our supporters help us boost investments in leading-edge PD research and allows us to build on 60 years of funding pioneering scientific progress, a legacy that includes:

- Our work to uncover the origins of Parkinson’s using the power of genetics through the groundbreaking, [PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration "PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation") initiative.
- Together with Parkinson’s UK, we invest in [drug discovery and development](/advancing-research/parkinsons-drug-discovery "Drug Discovery and Development"), aiming to deliver new therapies to treat, and ultimately cure, Parkinson’s.

 ![Infographic about research pillars](/sites/default/files/styles/no_sizing/public/images/researchpillarart.png?itok=7eqRD-77)  **Advancing PD research**. We fund the brightest neuroscience investigators and work alongside our designated [Global Care Network](/living-with-parkinsons/finding-care/global-care-network "Global Care Network") of top-ranking academic medical centers. Discover how we are strategically accelerating Parkinson's discoveries through our [research priorities](/advancing-research/finding-cure/research-priorities "Our Research Priorities").

**Improving quality of life.** We drive research that leads to better health outcomes for all people who live with Parkinson's. Take a look at our key findings that have led to advances in care through our [Parkinson’s Outcomes Project](/advancing-research/our-research/parkinsons-outcomes-project "Parkinson’s Outcomes Project").

**Putting an end to Parkinson's.** We find and fund the most promising pathways to improving treatments and ultimately, a cure. [Explore our currently funded grants](/advancing-research/finding-cure/currently-funded-grants "Currently Funded Grants").

### Uniting Research and the PD Community

We are committed to understanding Parkinson’s from the perspective of the PD community, including people living with PD, those who care for them, researchers, healthcare professionals and [research advocates](/advancing-research/advocate-research "Advocate for Research").

With more than two decades of work in patient engagement that has impacted the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s through prioritizing research, we match researchers with people in the PD community to help improve studies. Learn more about [engaging in Parkinson’s research](/advancing-research/advocate-research "Advocate for Research").

 ##   Join the Fight Against Parkinson's  

 Support ground-breaking research, care and community outreach

 

 [$35](https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?11283.donation=form1&df_id=11283&mfc_pref=T&l&set.DonationLevel=26812) [$50](https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?11283.donation=form1&df_id=11283&mfc_pref=T&l&set.DonationLevel=26813) [$100](https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?11283.donation=form1&df_id=11283&mfc_pref=T&l&set.DonationLevel=26814) [$250](https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?11283.donation=form1&df_id=11283&mfc_pref=T&l&set.DonationLevel=26815) 

  [Donate](https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/Donation2?11283.donation=form1&df_id=11283&mfc_pref=T&l&set.DonationLevel=26822&set.Value=) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  ##  Related Materials 

   Videos & Webinars 

###  [ Neuro Talk: How Does Basic Parkinson’s Research Get Us Closer to a Cure? ](/library/videos/basic-research) 



 [Watch Now](/library/videos/basic-research)

   Podcasts 

###  [ Episode 15: Why and How to Participate in Parkinson’s Research ](/library/podcast/15) 



 [Listen Now](/library/podcast/15)

   Videos & Webinars 

###  [ Neuro Talk: Research You Fund ](/library/videos/research-you-fund) 



 [Watch Now](/library/videos/research-you-fund)

  

 

 - Share on Facebook
- Share on X
- Share on LinkedIn