Raising funds for Parkinson’s Research
The proceeds from our events fund groundbreaking research into the cause and cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Since 2019, they have been directed toward the Parkinson’s Research Excellence Fund at the Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease, at the Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN. They have also been directed toward three areas represented by the awards below.
The Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease: Supporting leading-edge treatment and research
2019-2022 | Dr. Anthony Lang
The Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease is a program of the Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital.
The Program was established in 1994 and contains the long-standing Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic. The Program and Clinic specialize in leading-edge treatment and research for movement disorders. The Program is a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, led by Dr. Anthony Lang, who is recognized as one of Canada’s leading experts in Parkinson’s disease.
Through the support of the Porridge for Parkinson’s 2019 event, the Movement Disorders Fellowship Program at Toronto Western Hospital has provided two Fellows with a unique opportunity to receive superb education, mentorship and clinical experiences through video meetings, research rounds and journal clubs. Dr. Daniel Garbin Di Luca and Dr. Diana Olszewska are able to continue their research to become experts in their field, and collaborate with movement disorders clinicians and research leaders to ultimately provide patients with the best clinical care possible. Read more
Graduate and Fellowship Awards: Helping researchers with projects that will benefit Parkinson’s research
Facilitated by Parkinson’s Canada
2017 | Anita Abeyesekera
Study of Hypophonia, the soft speech that is often a characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. Read more
2017 | Dr. Alexandre Boutet
Demystifying neuromodulation of dysfunctional brain circuits in Parkinson’s disease patients with deep brain stimulation. Read more
2017 | Cricia Rinchon
Abnormal neuroplasticity in movement disorders. Read more
2015 | Ms. Sarah Coakeley
Biomarkers – Diagnosing rare forms of Parkinson’s disease. University of Toronto (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). Read more
2015 | Ms. Chelsia Kadgien
VPS35’s role in transporting proteins that help brain cells communicate. University of British Columbia. Read more
2015 | Dr. Natasha Radhu
Biomarkers – Bringing the brain back to a healthy balance. Toronto Western Research Institute (University Health Network). Read More
2013 | Mr. Jean-Francois Daneault
Subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: Effect on the mobility of patients and their caregiver. McGill University. Read more
2013 | Dr. Karl Grenier
The interaction between PINK1 and the Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase: Defining the role of Mitochondrial import defects in Parkinson’s Disease. McGill University. Read more
Pilot Project Grants: Advancing promising new research by established researchers with a speciality in Parkinson's Disease.
Facilitated by Parkinson’s Canada
2017 | Simon Wing
Establishing a new link between brain and body. Read more
2015 | Dr. Jonathan Brotchie
Evaluation of chloroquine as a disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease. University of Toronto. Read more
2015 | Dr. Bradley MacIntosh
Cognitive Impairment – The pulsating brain and its implications for Parkinson’s disease. University of Toronto (Sunnybrook). Read more
2014 | Dr. Mark Carpenter
A novel fMRI approach to investigating the pathophysiology of postural instability in Parkinson’s Disease. University of British Columbia. Read more
2013 | Dr. Abbas Sadikot
Creation of a Novel Computerized MRI-Integrated 3-D Histochemical Atlas of Parkinson’s Disease Brain. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University.
2011 | Dr. Edward Fon
Regulation of Parkin function by deubiquitination. McGill University. Read more
2010 | Dr. Michael Schlossmacher
Characterization and validation of pharmacologically-driven signalling pathways to lower alpha-synuclein: Implications for Parkinson disease. Ottawa Health Research Institute.
Research Briefs
Fund a Fellow
Dr. Lang: “[fellows are] the future of our field, they’re the future of the care we provide, and they’re the future of the research.”
UHN PD Research Facilities
Check out Dr. Fasano’s video explainer on CRANIA’s new gait analysis lab and how it is uses immersive lab technology to help patients with Parkinson’s disease.
2019 Fellowships
Dr. Daniel Garbin Di Luca and Dr. Diana Olszewska | Toronto Western Hospital Movement Disorders Fellowships.
2017 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Simon Wing | Establishing a new link between brain and body.
2017 Graduate Student Award
Cricia Rinchon | Investigation of abnormal neuroplasticity in movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
2017 Graduate Student Award
Dr. Alexandre Boutet | Demystifying neuromodulation of dysfunctional brain circuits in Parkinson’s disease patients with deep brain stimulation using high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging.
2017 Graduate Student Award
Dr. Anita Senthinathan, née Abeyesekera | Study of hypophonia, the soft speech that is often a characteristic of Parkinson’s disease.
2015 Graduate Student Award
Dr. Chelsia Kadgien | The role of VPS35 in transporting proteins that help brain cells communicate.
2015-2017 Graduate Student Award
Ms Sarah Coakeley | Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Pathological Tau in Parkinsonisms.
2015-2017 Fellowship Award
Dr. Natasha Radhu | Interactions between motor cortical inhibitory and excitatory circuits.
2015 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Jonathan Brotchie | Evaluation of chloroquine as a disease modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
2015 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Bradley MacIntosh | Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s disease.
2013 Graduate Student Award
Dr. Jean-Francois Daneault | Subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: Effect on the mobility of patients and their caregiver
2013 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Mark Carpenter | A novel fMRI approach to investigating the pathophysiology of postural instability in Parkinson’s disease.
2013 Graduate Student Award
Dr. Karl Grenier | interaction between PINK1 and the Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase: Defining the role of Mitochondrial import defects in Parkinson’s Disease.
2011 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Abbas Sadikot | Creation of a Novel Computerized MRI-Integrated 3-D Histochemical Atlas of Parkinson’s Disease Brain.
2011 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Edward Fon | Regulation of Parkin function by deubiquitination.
2009 Pilot Project Grant
Dr. Michael Schlossmacher | Characterization and validation of pharmacologically-driven signaling pathways to lower alpha-synuclein:
Implications for Parkinson.