Applying for a Conference Grant

The Conference Awards support gatherings of experts in the field in order to address emerging clinical or basic science questions about Parkinson’s. This award is part of PDF's Advancing Parkinson's Therapies Program.

• Program Overview
• Eligibility
• Restrictions
• Application Instructions, Deadlines and Funding Dates
• Additional Questions?

Program Overview

Conference Awards support gathering of experts in the field looking to address unsolved clinical or basic science problems relevant to Parkinson’s disease. 

All applications should demonstrate the potential to advance the field of Parkinson’s research and meeting results are to be made publicly available. Applicants may use this award to:

• identify or define emerging research questions;
• plan or organize a clinical trial;
• standardize research methods.

Potential topics are wide-ranging but examples include the importance of synaptic pathology in Parkinson's gene therapy, selecting standard measures of cognitive function for Parkinson's clinical trials, or establishing an impulse control disorder rating scale.

PDF is committed to including the perspective and experience of people living with Parkinson’s disease in the research process and highly encourages applicants to incorporate a community engagement component into award applications.

PDF periodically makes $45,000 available with a maximum of $15,000 per award. PDF expects most awards will be $10,000. Multiple funding partners are permitted and encouraged, including contributions from the applicant institution itself. PDF anticipates making regular awards as part of this RFA; consequently, competitive, follow-up applications may be considered in the future.

Eligibility

The Conference Award is open to independent investigators both nationally and internationally, possessing postdoctoral training or a medical degree (or the equivalent).

Restrictions

• Funding partners, whether planned or proposed, are encouraged but must be identified in advance.
• If one or more of the proposed funding partners is a for-profit entity, e.g., pharmaceutical company, support from this source must be made in the form of an unrestricted, educational award.
• Conference results must be made publicly available.
• Conferences may not be largely social or networking in nature.
• PDF expects that each meeting or conference will engage members of the Parkinson’s community.

Application Instructions, Deadlines and Funding Dates

Applying

All applications must be submitted online through the PDF website at grants.pdf.org; no paper copies will be accepted. The application period normally opens July and closes in late September. Applicants can review PDF's application instructions for further information.

Download Application Instructions and Checklist

Review and Decisions

All proposals for the Conference Award are peer-reviewed and competitively ranked based upon scientific merit and its impact upon Parkinson's disease. Final decisions are expected six to eight weeks from application deadline. Funding can commence immediately upon award notification.

Reporting Requirements and Other Terms

Applicants who successfully receive PDF funding for their conference are required to clearly identify the Parkinson's Disease Foundation as a source of support in all conference materials and advertisements, in all presentations, and in any subsequent publications.

Complimentary registration must be provided to a designated member of PDF staff or PDF guests as needed and is required for PDF conference sponsorship.

As part of PDF’s public sharing goal, PDF may post information relating to the conference on the PDF website such as the conference notice or agenda. At minimum, a brief (200 word) lay summary must be provided after the conference.

Additional Questions?

PDF recommends that those who are considering applying for this award or have questions regarding how to best include members of the Parkinson’s community to please contact PDF at grants@pdf.org or call (212) 923-4700.  Points of contact for this award are: Dr. Beth Vernaleo, Grants Manager and Dr. James Beck, PDF Director of Research Programs. For general questions, you can also review our Application FAQ.