Jackson Lab lands $1.8M grant from Michael J. Fox Foundation
Jackson Laboratory Secures $1.8 Million to Advance Parkinson’s Research
Bar Harbor, Maine – The Bar Harbor‑based Jackson Laboratory (JAX) announced it has received a $1.8 million grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to fund a new study focused on the GBA1 gene, a known risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. The project, a partnership with the New York Stem Cell Foundation, will employ human cell‑based models to explore how GBA1 mutations contribute to disease progression and to identify potential therapeutic targets.
The funding, announced Monday in a joint press release, is part of the foundation’s ongoing effort to support cutting‑edge Parkinson’s research worldwide. JAX’s co‑director of the JAX–NYSCF Collaborative, Stefan Semrau, will lead the initiative. “Many genetic variants associated with Parkinson’s disease have been identified, but for most of them we still don’t understand their functional roles or how they contribute to disease risk,” Semrau said. “Our goal is to develop new approaches for studying Parkinson’s disease and evaluating potential therapies.”
The study will focus on the GBA1 gene, mutations in which have been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s and to earlier onset and faster disease progression. “People with the GBA1 mutation are at higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, and often experience earlier onset and faster progression,” Semrau added.
Nicole Polinski, director of research resources for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, emphasized the potential impact of the grant. “The research will help advance understanding of Parkinson’s disease biology,” she said. “By using human cell modeling systems, we expect scientists to be able to evaluate potential therapeutic approaches more effectively.”
The Jackson Laboratory has long been recognized for its contributions to genetic and biomedical research. The new grant will expand its capacity to generate and study patient‑derived cells that carry GBA1 mutations, allowing researchers to observe cellular changes that occur during the early stages of Parkinson’s. The collaboration with the New York Stem Cell Foundation brings additional expertise in stem‑cell technology and disease modeling.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation, founded in 2000 by actor Michael J. Fox after his own Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1991, has consistently prioritized funding that translates into tangible progress toward disease mechanisms and treatments. Fox, who first rose to fame playing Marty McFly in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, has been a vocal advocate for Parkinson’s research, often speaking at events and urging the scientific community to accelerate therapeutic development.
While the grant’s primary focus is the GBA1 mutation, the infrastructure and tools developed through this project are expected to be adaptable to other genetic variants linked to Parkinson’s. “The methodology we develop can serve as a template for studying a wide array of genetic contributors to the disease,” Semrau noted.
The JAX–NYSCF team plans to initiate cell‑line derivation and functional assays within the next few months. Results from the early studies will be shared with the broader scientific community through open‑access publications and conference presentations, ensuring that findings contribute to the collective effort to curb Parkinson’s impact.
This funding underscores the collaborative nature of modern biomedical research, bringing together a Maine institution, a New York foundation, and a private philanthropy dedicated to neurological health. As Parkinson’s continues to affect an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States alone, projects like this provide hope that a deeper understanding of genetic risk factors will translate into safer and more effective therapies in the future.
