The Finnish Parkinson Foundation in brief
Let’s build a path to understanding
The Finnish Parkinson Foundation awards grants to researchers on an annual basis to support scientific research into movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and other types of parkinsonism, essential tremors and Huntington’s disease.
It is important to understand the underlying mechanisms and progress of movement disorders and to develop medication and other treatments. Emerging therapies, or even curative and preventive medications, play a considerable role in society in terms of ageing people’s quality of life and independent living.
There are tens of thousands of people in Finland afflicted with these diseases which are, at this very moment, affecting their own lives as well as those of their loved ones. Only scientific research can answer the questions raised by these diseases.
Our history
The Finnish Parkinson Foundation was established in 1995 by the Finnish Parkinson Association (currently known as the Finnish Movement Disorders Association), the national umbrella organisation for people with Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, Huntington’s disease and other movement disorders. The Foundation’s initial capital was bequeathed by Sylvia Sjölund, and its funds have subsequently been added to by several donors, some of whom wish to remain anonymous.
Funding
The Finnish Parkinson Foundation has participated in funding several research projects and doctoral theses on movement disorders.
The results of this research have contributed to building our knowledge about Parkinson’s disease and helped us understand the problems of those afflicted. Continuous research efforts are required to increase our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, and to develop their treatment and rehabilitation. The Foundation wants to support Finnish research in particular, because there are variations between different countries in terms of the causes of movement disorders and their significance.
The Finnish Parkinson Foundation accepts applications for grants once a year. The Foundation’s policy is to keep the number of grants awarded every year at the same or at an increasing level over the long term. The grants are funded by donations and from the multi-year average net return on its assets. The Foundation’s funding is fully based on private donations.