The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) plans to partner with Georgetown University to offer a fellowship that will train students in the Georgetown Program for Regulatory Science and Medicine to optimize clinical trial designs and better support novel therapies.
“While momentum grows in improved understanding of Parkinson’s dysfunction and in drug development, it is important to keep pace in regulatory science,” MJFF CEO Todd Sherer said. “New treatments addressing unmet symptoms and integration of technology in clinical trials present opportunity for coordination with regulators to advance these programs.”
The fellowship follows a decision earlier this year from the MJFF to create a policy department and focus formally on the regulatory and legislative issues surrounding access to treatment and health care resources. This includes both the development and availability of treatment options -- topics that the MJFF research fellow at Georgetown will be able to investigate.
The program will include mentoring from Program for Regulatory Science and Medicine Director Ira Shoulson. Working with Shoulson, who also serves on the MJFF Executive Scientific Advisory Board, the fellow will be able to direct a research project and have access to experts from both the Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical industry.
