Cure Parkinson's Trust

Cure Parkinson’s Trust is a UK charity founded in 2005 by four individuals living with Parkinson’s—Tom Isaacs, Sir Richard Nichols, Air Vice Marshal Michael Dicken, and Sir David Jones—frustrated by the slow pace of curative research. Its singular mission is to fund, facilitate, and catalyse disease-modifying research to slow, stop, or reverse Parkinson’s progression, ultimately achieving a cure. Core values emphasise urgency, scientific rigour, interdisciplinary collaboration, transparency, and centring people with Parkinson’s (PwP) in research design. Distinctive for its uncompromising cure-focus, the Trust has supported over 80 projects at 38 institutions across 11 countries, including multimillion-pound investments in drug trials and the International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) consortium.

It prioritises high-impact preclinical and clinical research on innovative therapeutics with strong evidence and five-year translation potential to bedside applications, excluding symptom management. Beneficiaries include principal investigators, universities, and consortia developing trajectory-altering interventions, with PwP advocacy integrated throughout.

Eligible applicants are academic institutions and research teams worldwide, with no geographic, income, or size restrictions; unsolicited applications are welcomed via a competitive two-stage process (EOI then full proposal). Typical grants range £150,000–£500,000 (preclinical up to £250,000; larger clinical trials possible after prior contact). Quarterly Research Committee meetings review submissions, with deadlines including 3 November 2025; notifications arrive within three months.

Exclusions cover symptomatic-only treatments, core costs, capital, and non-scientific activities. As the UK’s only dedicated cure-focused Parkinson’s charity, it stands out for leveraging over £100 million in partner funding, rapid bench-to-bedside translation, and uniting global neurologists, clinicians, and PwP communities.