Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) is a global research initiative changing the way science is typically done. With input across sectors and disciplines, we are creating collaborative and transparent research processes in an environment that can drive discoveries for Parkinson’s disease research.
Our initiative is different from traditional funding programs due to our ability to make large, long-term commitments, our appetite for risk and ability to support studies that might otherwise not be funded, and our steadfast belief that we can accelerate advances by fostering a collaborative and open approach to research through our open science policies.
ASAP’s mission is to accelerate the pace of discovery and inform the path to a cure for Parkinson’s disease through collaboration, research-enabling resources, and data sharing.
At ASAP, we apply a Theory of Change framework, which allows us to cohesively and comprehensively measure progress – from idea to result – in the context of our overarching vision. Further, it enables us to reflect upon and iterate processes as we measure our progress to date. Our work is broken down into the three main components of our mission: collaboration, resource generation, and data sharing, which underpin our strategies for accelerating discoveries for Parkinson’s disease.
Scientific progress can be accelerated when researchers exchange ideas early and often, in a collaborative rather than competitive manner.
By supporting resource development, we are building an infrastructure, available to the larger scientific community, that improves access to research tools, reproducibility of studies, and process efficiency to accelerate discoveries.
Sharing research outputs, such as datasets, code, and protocols, enables scientists to build upon each other’s work. This approach fosters collaboration, attracts new talent and expertise to the field, and increases the statistical power of research through meta-analysis.
We believe that by supporting collaboration, generating resources, and creating a culture of data sharing, we can deliver faster and better outcomes for Parkinson’s disease research.
Starting in 2017, we convened more than 100 multidisciplinary experts and strategists to shape ASAP’s strategic roadmap and thoughtfully guide our future investments in Parkinson’s disease research. Learn more about our journey and impact to date.
Coalition for Aligning Science, an organization with a track record for designing and implementing large-scale biomedical research programs to accelerate discoveries, serves as the managing entity, setting the strategy and vision for the ASAP initiative.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), a nonprofit, with a track record for operational excellence and commitment to accelerating the next generation of Parkinson’s disease treatments, serves as the implementation partner.
With thanks to ASAP’s founding Advisory Council for their input and guidance in developing the strategic roadmap.
James Beck, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer, VP, Scientific Affairs, Parkinson’s Foundation
Patrik Brundin, MD, PhD
Van Andel Research Institute Center for Neurodegenerative Science
Pietro De Camilli, MD
Kavli Institute for Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine
Marie-Françoise Chesselet, MD, PhD
Van Andel Institute Center for Neurodegenerative Science
Martin Citron, PhD
UCB Pharma
David Dexter, PhD
Parkinson’s UK, Imperial College London
Ted Dawson MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Thomas Gasser, MD, PhD
Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research
Magali Haas, MD, PhD
Cohen Veterans Bioscience
Karl Kieburtz, MD, MPH
University of Rochester Medical Center
Walter Koroshetz, MD
National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke
Robert Malenka, MD, PhD
Stanford University School of Medicine
Kelsey Martin, MD, PhD
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Eliezer Masliah, MD
National Institute of Aging, NIH
K. Kimberly McCleary
The Kith Collective
Karoly Nikolich, PhD
Alkahest
C. Warren Olanow, MD
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
Bernardo Sabatini, MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School
Randy Schekman, PhD
University of California, Berkeley
Darryle Schoepp, PhD
Merck
Todd Sherer, PhD
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Andrew Singleton, PhD
Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2)
Beth Stevens, PhD
Harvard Medical School
David Sulzer, PhD
Columbia University Medical Center
Huda Zoghbi, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
ASAP supported programs are designed to help implement our vision. Together, our shared commitment to understanding the root causes of Parkinson’s disease is accelerating discovery.
ASAP is part of the CNS Quest, an initiative to accelerate discoveries, advance treatments and care, and improve the daily lives of people impacted by Parkinson’s disease, autism, bipolar disorder, and other CNS conditions—shortening the journey from lab to living well. The CNS Quest is a program of the Sergey Brin Family Foundation and Catalyst4.
