What is an Institutional Review Board (IRB), pt. 1

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee within a university or other organization that reviews research proposals. An IRB reviews the proposals before a project is submitted to a funding agency to determine if the research project follows ethical principles and federal regulations for the protection of human subjects.

As Movement Disorders Foundation readies the launch of its Young Investigator Pilot Grant Program in 2023, founding director Rajeev Kumar, MD, reflects on the design of research projects and offers some personal insight on IRBs. MDF Young Investigator Pilot Grants will provide up to $50,000 annually for up to two years to enable promising investigators in movement disorders research to extend their research fellowship training or begin a career as independent research faculty. Click video to learn more.

New study shows incidence of Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. is 50% higher than previous estimates

A new study reveals that the annual incidence of Parkinson’s disease among older adults is 50% higher than the current estimate of 60,000 diagnoses annually, according to a study published in the scientific journal npj Parkinson’s Disease. The study measured the number of people diagnosed with PD each year. Click here to learn more.

What is an Institutional Review Board (IRB), pt. 2

In part two of his talk on IRBs - committees within universities and other organizations that approve or disapprove research projects - Movement Disorders Foundation founding director Dr. Rajeev Kumar addresses research studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, as well as consultant reviews and other topics.

MDF Young Investigator Pilot Grants, scheduled for launch in 2023, will provide up to $50,000 annually for up to two years to support promising investigators in movement disorders research in launching their careers in neuroscience and to gather pilot data to apply for larger federal and university grants. Click video to learn more.

A sound you can’t hear that may change your life

“Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive therapeutic technology,” according to Dr. Neal Kassell, founder and chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. “We’ve said that focused ultrasound is the most powerful sound you will never hear, but sound that someday could save your life.”

The procedure has been beneficial for people with essential tremor, a neurological disorder that affects nearly 25 million worldwide. Click here to learn more.

Early data support gene-editing platform’s ability to fix Friedreich’s ataxia deficits

Prime Medicine’s gene-editing technology has successfully corrected the genetic deficits associated with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and restored nerve cell projections in preclinical studies using patient cells. The company also announced positive updates from a number of its other developmental programs using this technology. Click here to read more.