There are similarities between Parkinson's disease and some other neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease. The protein that is altered in familial Parkinson's disease has similarities to the non-beta amyloid component of Alzheimer's disease. These findings may suggest fruitful avenues of research. Proposals submitted to MRS should focus on the etiology, pathogenesis, genetics of Parkinson's disease or related neurodegenerative disease, or the efficacy of new treatments. Topics such as neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress and free radial injury, trophic factor and cytokine effects, neuronal transplantation, gene transfer, genetic susceptibility to environmentally induced neuronal injury, and animal models of neuronal degeneration are responsive to this announcement.
Proposals employing novel concepts or approaches are especially welcome.
Important issues include patients' physical and cognitive function, quality of life, and cost of care. Relevant health systems issues could focus on approaches to comprehensive management, including organization of outpatient services, community based and institutional long-term care, management of comorbidities, environmental modifications, and advanced care planning. Cooperative Studies . Phase II, III or IV treatment trials, including trials of medical or surgical approaches requiring large numbers of participants or multiple sites, are considered responsive to this announcement. Eligibility to submit proposals will follow the same rules established by the individual services for submission of investigator-initiated proposals.