The ASAP Collaborative Research Network (CRN) is the first of its kind to foster an environment that facilitates the rapid and free exchange of scientific ideas to spark new discoveries for Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The CRN is an international, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional network of collaborating investigators working to address high-priority science questions. Teams are awarded grant funding through request for applications in partnership with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).
35 Teams Funded
$290M+ in Grant Funding Awarded Over Four Years
163 Investigators Total as Team Leaders
51
Team Leaders are Women
53
Team Leaders are Early-Career Investigators
14
Countries Represented Across Team Leadership
80+
Institutions Across Team Leaders
>90%
of Teams report having Team Leads that are new to PD research
Explore the Grantees
ASAP’s CRN is focused on three key scientific themes related to Parkinson’s disease (PD) – functional genomics, neuro-immune interactions, and circuitry and brain-body interactions. Investigators on these teams bring the breadth of their collective experience to the PD field as they come from multiple disciplines, institutions, career stages, and geographies. Together, they share ASAP’s mission to improve our understanding of PD development and progression through collaboration, resource generation, and data sharing. Keep reading to explore the teams working in each theme or learn about individual CRN Investigators.
PD Functional Genomics
Since the first identification of a causal genetic mutation in Parkinson’s disease (PD), genetic discoveries have expanded our understanding of PD heredity and broadened insights into spontaneous disease. The focus across these teams will be to unravel the biology underlying these genetic mutations.
Neuro-Immune Interactions
Chronic neuroinflammation has long been implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms mediating this process remain unknown. The focus across these teams will be to uncover the molecular and cellular contributions of the neuro-immune system in Parkinson’s disease.
Circuitry and Brain-Body Interactions
The circuitry and brain-body interactions theme focuses on basic research aimed at understanding how the circuits that underlie key brain regions are affected in Parkinson’s disease and how they may contribute to disease initiation and progression. These teams will also investigate how communication between the brain and areas outside the brain are affected over the disease course.
CRN Funding Opportunities
Two new funding opportunities will be available beginning in 2024 and 2025.
The first is a competitive funding opportunity for existing CRN teams starting in early 2024. Renewal funds will be issued over two additional years to ensure that ambitious/bold ideas manifested or explored with original grants can be further built upon.
The second opportunity is an open competitive funding opportunity for the broader research community launching in mid 2025. These grants will support projects based on new, yet-to-be announced focus areas that require additional capital to spur discovery for PD research.
