APDA Survey Reveals Widespread Funding Disruptions in Parkinson's Research, Prompting Bridge Funding Program
核心洞察
APDA surveyed 74 Parkinson's disease (搜索) investigators in May 2025, finding 76% experienced research disruptions and 51% lost institutional or individual funding.
In response, APDA launched the Bridge Funding Award program to sustain promising investigators facing unexpected gaps in support.
APDA received 290 letters of intent in 2025 and 366 in 2026, representing a 26% increase in total applications and a 66% rise from US-based investigators.
A survey of Parkinson's disease (搜索) (PD) investigators has quantified the extent to which funding instability threatens the continuity of research, with more than three-quarters of respondents reporting disruptions to their work. The findings, presented by the American Parkinson Disease Association (搜索) (APDA) at the World Parkinson Congress (WPC) 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, prompted the organization to launch a Bridge Funding Award program designed to sustain promising researchers during gaps in support.
The 2026 WPC took place at the end of May in Phoenix, Arizona, and was attended by more than 4,000 people. The conference, held every three years, brings together researchers, clinicians, people with Parkinson's disease (搜索), care partners, and PD advocates to share information on the science of PD as well as best clinical, wellness, and exercise practices.
Quantifying Funding Vulnerability in PD Research
To better understand and quantify how vulnerable the PD research community is to inconsistent funding, APDA surveyed 74 investigators in May 2025. The survey revealed that 76% of researchers reported experiencing disruptions to their research, while 51% had lost institutional or individual funding.
The stakes of such instability are significant. As APDA noted, research depends on a consistent funding stream; if a researcher cannot maintain funding, years of work may be jeopardized as mid-stream projects cannot be completed. In the most severe cases, a researcher may need to leave PD research for a different field with more consistent funding, or leave the research world altogether.
Bridge Funding to Protect Scientific Momentum
In response to this difficult funding climate, APDA launched the Bridge Funding Award program to sustain promising investigators who had previously been funded by APDA and who now face unexpected gaps in support. These awards are intended to ensure that critical research continues without interruption.
The demand for such support appears to be growing. Because of current funding uncertainties from other sources, researchers have been turning to APDA for potential support in record numbers. APDA received 290 letters of intent for research funding in 2025, including 220 from US-based investigators. In 2026, submissions increased to 366, all from US-based researchers. This represented a 26% increase in total applications and a 66% increase in applications from US-based investigators.
These statistics suggest that funding instability remains widespread. In response, APDA continues to be committed to supporting researchers at vulnerable points in their careers in order to maintain a research community dedicated to uncovering the causes and discovering new treatments for PD.
Beyond the Bench: Diversity and Social Science Initiatives
APDA also presented its efforts to address two major gaps in Parkinson's research through dedicated funding mechanisms. The need to better understand PD in communities traditionally excluded from research led to the development of the APDA Diversity in PD Research Grant, while the psychosocial challenges that shape daily life with PD—such as caregiver burden, stigma, and mental health—led to the APDA Social Sciences in PD Research Grant.
The Diversity in Parkinson's Disease (搜索) Research Grant has been awarded yearly since 2020 to support research scientists studying health disparities and differences among under-studied PD communities. To date, the program has awarded 8 grants, generated 8 peer-reviewed publications, and accumulated 158 citations. This work helps identify barriers to care, treatment, and research participation that can make vital impacts in diverse patient populations.
The Social Science in PD Research Grant was introduced in 2025, awarded to investigators addressing the critical social challenges faced by individuals living with PD and their care partners. The first grant was awarded to support work on advanced recreation therapy balance and fall-prevention programs for people with PD in small cities.
A More Resilient Research Environment
The posters presented at WPC demonstrate that the impact of APDA research funding extends beyond individual grants. Bridge funding helps protect scientific discovery and momentum during common periods of uncertainty, while diversity-focused initiatives broaden the understanding of PD across historically underrepresented populations. Social science research helps provide a more complete picture of living with PD, including quality of life, communication, and caregiver experiences.
The full impact of this work is just beginning to emerge and will continue to be evaluated to ensure patients and researchers are given the tools and insights to have the best possible outcomes.