A Medical Device Daily

The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF; Miami) reported that it will fund $3.7 million in grant programs dedicated to Parkinson's disease research, care and outreach worldwide.

Grants were awarded to institutions in the foundation's network of 44 centers of excellence, 10 comprehensive care centers, and 10 outreach centers.

Through these centers alone, NPF said it reaches more than 50,000 patients with Parkinson's disease and almost 70,000 patients with movement disorders.

"This year we received novel projects from a record number of centers and investigators worldwide," said Michael Okun, MD, National Medical Director of NPF. "The NPF funding continues to catalyze important discoveries and advances that make a difference for patients and families suffering today with this disease.

NPF dedicated about $1 million (24%) to research, more than $640,000 (19%) to comprehensive care, and more than $1.5 million (57%) to outreach for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

Research funded is largely clinical and included studies of genetics, potential treatment, cognition and depression, and fall prevention.

Programs funded in comprehensive care were diverse and included grants focusing on advanced-stage Parkinson's disease and continuity of care. Of the 36 outreach grants, 28 sought to reach underserved and culturally diverse populations.