NEOMED fundraising exceeds $1 million for Parkinson’s research

Staff report

ROOTSTOWN

Northeast Ohio Medical University has surpassed the $1 million mark in fundraising for Parkinson’s disease research.

A grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Target Validation Program helped to push the University’s PD research funds to more than $1.3 million in private funding.

Starting with an initial gift of $50,000 from Stark Community Foundation in 2009, researchers in the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at NEOMED caught the attention of individuals, foundations and organizations throughout Northeast Ohio.

Currently, the university’s PD research, led by Werner Geldenhuys and Richard Carroll, has been supported primarily by its surrounding communities in Akron, Canton and Youngstown.

Gifts to date:

Zita M. and Joseph DiYorio Charitable Foundation

Glenn and Karen Leppo

Richard A. (Dick) Nicely

Portage County Parkinson’s Support Group

Frances and Lillian Schermer Charitable Trusts

Stark Community Foundation

The MJFF Target Validation program supports Parkinson’s research such as that underway at NEOMED, which is seeking to determine if manipulating a novel biological target has impact in a PD-relevant clinical model — an essential early step to the development of potentially promising therapies.

The $122,435 grant presented to Geldenhuys and Carroll this month will help them further develop their research focused on developing compounds which can restore mitochondrial function.

“Having the support of the communities we serve is crucial and continues to be a core component of the University’s mission, vision and values,” said Charles Taylor, dean of the College of Pharmacy. “Our research stands strong on its own, and receiving validation from The Michael J. Fox Foundation is a great accomplishment that will open doors to even more opportunities.”

For 40 years, NEOMED has worked in collaboration with its educational, clinical and research partners to successfully train health professionals and medical researchers who serve and impact the region and beyond.