International Research Grants Program (IRGP)

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) fosters Parkinson’s science through a competitive, investigator-initiated program  known as the International Research Grants Program (IRGP).  The IRGP is designed to promote innovative research that has high potential to significantly advance the knowledge of Parkinson’s disease, but that is unlikely to secure funding through more traditional sources. 

This year, PDF is capitalizing on the success of the IRGP by increasing the size and duration of the grants awarded.  Changing the award parameters permits PDF to continue to fund innovative research and recruit the brightest international scientific talent. 

IRGP awards will now reach a maximum of  $75,000 per year for two years (compared to the previous maximum of $50,000 for only one year of research), subject to review of first year progress.  Research grants are now also eligible for an additional ten percent in indirect costs. 

By supporting novel, “high risk/high reward” research, the goal of the IRGP is to enable investigators to demonstrate the feasibility of their ideas while generating preliminary data necessary for the support of future funding (typically, from the National Institutes of Health and other government funding agencies).

PDF annually awards more than $950,000 to support innovative and promising work through the Grants Program. If you are interested in becoming a PDF-funded researcher, learn more about Applying to the International Research Grants Program.