[Parkinson's Foundation](https://www.parkinson.org)

October 2026 (Letter of Intent) | February 2027 (Full application)

$200,000 total over 2 years ($100,000/year); up to 10% indirect costs; PI/Co-PI/Co-I salary capped at $35,000/year

Funds innovative, high-impact Parkinson’s disease research projects that explore novel ideas, approaches, or therapies not typically supported by traditional funding sources.

--- ## Description The Parkinson’s Foundation Impact Awards program supports innovative and unconventional research projects that have the potential to advance understanding of Parkinson’s disease (PD) biology, identify new biomarkers or therapeutic targets, or introduce novel research approaches and therapies. The program is designed to fund groundbreaking ideas that are unlikely to receive support from traditional mechanisms, providing critical seed funding to generate compelling preliminary results and catalyze further investment. Both established investigators and newcomers to PD research are encouraged to apply, with a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. --- ## Due Dates - October 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated/projected) - February 2027: Full application deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Each award provides up to $200,000 in total costs over two years ($100,000 per year). - Up to 10% of the total award ($10,000 per year) may be used for indirect costs. - Salary support for the Principal Investigator (PI), Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), and Co-Investigator (Co-I) combined is capped at $35,000 annually. - No cap on salaries for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, or other key personnel. - Tuition is not an eligible expense. - Funding is subject to annual progress reviews. --- ## Eligibility - Open to scientists with a PhD or MD, regardless of nationality or institutional location. - The PI must be an independent investigator holding a tenure-track position or equivalent; non-tenure track faculty may serve as Co-PIs; postdoctoral fellows may serve as Co-Is. - Instructors are eligible if they will start a tenure-track position by the award start date (requires a support letter). - Applicants may apply to only one program per funding cycle and may not submit multiple LOIs to the same program in the same cycle. - Proposals must demonstrate a significant research focus and impact on Parkinson’s disease. - Projects must be feasible within the 24-month award period. - Not eligible: proposals for clinical trials, complementary/supportive therapies (e.g., diet, exercise, psychotherapy), meta-analyses, or projects lacking established human subject cohorts. --- ## Application Process - The process is two-step: 1. **Letter of Intent (LOI):** ~1 page, submitted by the LOI deadline. Only complete LOIs will be considered and reviewed. 2. **Full Proposal:** By invitation only, following LOI review and selection. - All application components must be submitted online via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/GrantOpportunities.asp?GMID=196). - Only one application per applicant per cycle is permitted. - Review involves internal and external peer review, with final decisions based on scientific merit, potential impact, and alignment with the Foundation’s mission. - Funding notifications are typically made in June, with awards beginning August 1. --- ## Additional Information - The Foundation strongly encourages applications from groups historically underrepresented in the scientific workforce. - Awardees may not hold another award with overlapping specific aims concurrently. - All research involving human or animal subjects must have appropriate institutional approvals. - All publications resulting from funded research must be made publicly available in PubMed Central. --- ## External Links - [Impact Awards Program Details](https://www.parkinson.org/advancing-research/for-researchers/awards-independent-investigators#ImpactAwards) - [Award Deadlines](https://www.parkinson.org/advancing-research/for-researchers/award-deadlines) - [Apply via ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/GrantOpportunities.asp?GMID=196) - [Award Search Database (previously funded projects)](https://proposalcentral.com/Insights/E_EFyKQdtyY%3D/Public/Index) - [Parkinson’s Foundation Public Access Policy](https://www.parkinson.org/advancing-research/finding-cure/public-access-policy) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [Grants@Parkinson.org](mailto:Grants@Parkinson.org) | | Foundation Contact Page | [Contact Form](https://www.parkinson.org/about-us/contact) | | Phone | 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) |

Impact Awards

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