In this episode, I discussed with Dr. Shalini Padmanabhan, Senior VP of Research from Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the work conducted by the foundation. She highlighted MJFF's strategic approach to funding across the entire research spectrum, from basic biology to clinical trials, and emphasized our focus on breaking down silos between academia, industry, and patients to accelerate progress. We also discussed current challenges in Parkinson's research, including the complexity of the disease, difficulties in translating preclinical findings to clinical settings, and the need for better biomarkers and clinical trial designs.

· Biomarker : is an indicator, something we can measure in our blood, urine, or soft tissues to show that the drug treatment/therapy is showing a response to a therapeutic treatment. These have been hard to find especially for neurological diseases and new biomarkers are being discovered that is helping design clinical trials.

· Pre-clinical model- to understand a disease in laboratory, scientists need to make a model using animals or cells that looks like the disease.

· PPMI: MJFF has initiated a Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), that follows thousands of individuals – those recently diagnosed Parkinson’s participants and healthy controls for clinical and genetic risk factors.

· Epidemiology— Epidemiology is the branch of medical science that investigates which factors can lead to diseases and disorder.

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I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Ray Dorsey, neurologist and co-author of The Parkinson’s Plan with Dr. Michael Okun. In our conversation, we dive into why Parkinson’s disease has become the world’s fastest-growing brain disorder — and, more importantly, how much of it can actually be prevented.

Dr. Dorsey shares eye-opening insights on how environmental toxins — from pesticides and dry-cleaning chemicals to air pollution — play a bigger role in Parkinson’s than most people realize. He also outlines 25 practical steps we can all take to reduce our risk and emphasizes the need to address the root causes of this disease.

This is an empowering discussion about how awareness, advocacy, and science can come together to build a future free from Parkinson’s disease.

🎧 Tune in now to listen and share with anyone who cares about brain health and prevention.

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A Parkinson’s diagnosis doesn’t arrive with a manual—it arrives with questions, invisible symptoms, and a new reality that families have to learn as they go. We sit down with Larry and Rebecca Gifford for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about young-onset Parkinson’s, the hidden weight of non-motor symptoms, and the practical tools to deal with it. We also learn about care partner and care giver perspective and building a community to find hope and support.

Whether you’re living with Parkinson’s, caring for someone who is, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation offers comfort, insight, and strength.

Please consider becoming a PD Avenger. Log on to www.pdavengers.com and click on sign up.

**Note: Larry has over 30 years of experience in radio, but the final 15 years were in management, and he haven’t worked in media for the past two years. He is now fully focused on his role as part of PD Avengers.

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