Michael J. Fox Foundation PD Therapeutics Conference

Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, Chicago

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) will host its second annual PD Therapeutics Conference on Monday, September 15, in Chicago.

Chaired by Jeffrey Kordower, PhD, Director, Research Center for Brain Repair and Jean-Schweppe Armour Professor of Neurological Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, the conference will bring together academic and industry scientists to focus on novel research advances impacting development of improved disease-modifying and symptomatic interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of PD.

Select MJFF-funded investigators will present research on topics including novel neuroprotective agents, innovative mechanisms to address disease symptoms and improvements in relevant animal models, and biomarker discovery/development.

In addition to scientific talks, a small poster session will highlight novel targets and animal models relevant to PD research.

Confirmed speakers include:

• D. James Surmeier, PhD (Northwestern University), on the FDA-approved diabetes drug that may protect dopamine neurons in the Parkinson's brain

• Anders Björkund, MD, PhD (Lund University, Sweden), on the role of serotonin (better known for the part it plays in depression) in dyskinesias, the disruptive movements brought on by long-term dopamine replacement therapy

• Erwan Bezard, PhD (Universite Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France), and Piu Chan, MD, PhD (Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, China), on conducting pre-clinical and clinical research in China

• Patrik Brundin, MD, PhD (Lund University, Sweden), on the state of cell replacement approaches for Parkinson's disease

Registration is free for accredited members of the press.

Last year's inaugural conference in New York City drew a multidisciplinary audience of nearly 200 academic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry researchers.

Funding for the PD Therapeutics Conference has been provided by Elan Corporation, plc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation sand the Licensing Executive Society (LES).

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation

Founded in 2000, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to ensuring the development of a cure for Parkinson's disease within the coming decade through an aggressively funded research agenda. The Foundation has funded approximately $126 million in research to date.