NINDS Neuroscience Funding Announcements

Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research (P50)

Funding Contact(s): Beth-Anne Sieber, Ph.D.
Funding Categories: Neurodegeneration

Brief Description:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) invites new and competing renewal applications for the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research program. Proposed Centers must involve multidisciplinary teams engaged in integrative basic, translational and clinical research on Parkinson’s disease (PD), with the primary objective of transforming this research into the development of new treatments. Investigations on related parkinsonian disorders may be included, to the extent that these inform and/or expand research on PD. Accomplishment of the stated goals of the Center, and of each project, must require substantial collaborative efforts and the utilization of common resource cores. All proposed Centers must include a pre-clinical and/or clinical translational research project. In this context, pre-clinical translation is defined as pre-IND/IDE (Investigational New Drug/Investigational Device Exemption) stage research on potential therapeutic or diagnostic candidates. Clinical translational projects are early-stage projects in human subjects that are designed as first steps toward transformation of scientific discoveries arising from basic research, clinical research or population studies into new modalities for the prevention, treatment and cure of PD. All Centers are required to have an Administrative Core; inclusion of other research and core components is flexible within stated budget limits. Inclusion of a clinical component, a clinical translational research project plus a clinical resource core, is encouraged, as is emphasis on training and public outreach activities. The Udall Center Director (PI) must be an established leader in scientific research with visionary leadership skills and proven expertise in research project and personnel management. Eligible institutions must demonstrate commitment to and support for the establishment and continuation of the proposed Udall Center. Successful applicants will participate in a network of existing Udall Centers to foster the translation of new scientific findings and technological developments into novel treatments for PD.

Grant Mechanism: P50
NIH Guide: RFA-NS-10-001
Release Date: 2009-10-06
Expiration Date: 2009-12-11