Research funded

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. Before 2019, our awards and grants were facilitated through Parkinson Canada. 

2019—2023

The Edmond J. Safra Program

Edmond J. Safra Program

This program of the Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital was established in 1994 and contains the long-standing Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic. The Program and Clinic are led by Dr. Anthony Lang, one of Canada’s leading experts in Parkinson’s disease, and specialize in leading-edge treatment and research for movement disorders. 

The Fellowship Program

Through the support of Porridge for Parkinson’s, the Movement Disorders Fellowship Program at Toronto Western Hospital has provided Fellows with a unique opportunity to receive superb education, mentorship and clinical experiences. The Fellows conduct research to become experts in their field to ultimately provide patients with the best clinical care possible.

2019

Dr. Garbin Di Luca

Evaluation of the clinical phenotype of patients with LRRK2 mutations and studying interventions to treat non-motor manifestations

Dr. Diana Oleszewska

Development of biomarkers in various bio-fluids using novel techniques and expanding investigations of genotype-phenotype correlations in movement disorders and the role of therapeutics.

2013 – 2019

Graduate and Fellowship Awards

2017

Anita Abeyeseker

Study of Hypophonia, the soft speech that is often a characteristic of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Alexandre Boutet

Demystifying neuromodulation of dysfunctional brain circuits in Parkinson’s disease patients with deep brain stimulation.

Cricia Rinchon

Abnormal neuroplasticity in movement disorders.

2015

Sarah Coakeley

Biomarkers – Diagnosing rare forms of Parkinson’s disease. University of Toronto.

Chelsia Kadgien

VPS35’s role in transporting proteins that help brain cells communicate. University of British Columbia.

Dr. Natasha Radhu

Biomarkers – Bringing the brain back to a healthy balance. Toronto Western Research Institute, UHN.

2013

Jean-Francois Daneault

Subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: Effect on the mobility of patients and their caregiver. McGill University.

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.

 

2013–2019

Pilot Project Grants

2015–2017

Dr. Simon Wing

Establishing a new link between brain and body.

Dr.Jonathan Brotchie

Evaluation of chloroquine as a disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease. University of Toronto.

Dr. Bradley McIntosh

Cognitive Impairment – The pulsating brain and its implications for Parkinson’s disease. University of Toronto (Sunnybrook).

2013–2014

Dr. Mark Carpenter

A novel fMRI approach to investigating the pathophysiology of postural instability in Parkinson’s Disease. University of British Columbia.

Dr. Abbas Sadikot

Creation of a Novel Computerized MRI-Integrated 3-D Histochemical Atlas of Parkinson’s Disease Brain. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University.

2010–2011

Dr. Edward Fon

Regulation of Parkin function by deubiquitination. McGill University.

Dr. Michael Schlossmacher

Characterization and validation of pharmacologically-driven signalling pathways to lower alpha-synuclein: Implications for Parkinson disease. Ottawa Health Research Institute.