The Cure Parkinson's Trust

Charity Number: 1111816

Annual Expenditure: £25.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £25 million committed since 2005 (leveraged £100 million additional funding)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3 months (can be longer for clinical trials)
  • Grant Range: Up to £250,000 for preclinical research; flexible for clinical trials
  • Geographic Focus: International

Contact Details

  • Website: www.cureparkinsons.org.uk
  • Email: david@cureparkinsons.org.uk (general), research@cureparkinsons.org.uk (research team)
  • Phone: 020 7929 7656
  • Pre-application support: Applicants encouraged to contact research team if uncertain about project fit

Overview

The Cure Parkinson's Trust (Charity Number 1111816) was founded in 2005 by Tom Isaacs, who was himself diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Since its inception, the charity has committed over £25 million to fund more than 80 research projects across 38 institutions in 11 countries, while leveraging an additional £100 million through partnerships. The charity focuses exclusively on funding and facilitating laboratory or clinical research with the potential to lead to a cure for Parkinson's disease, specifically targeting “disease-modifying” therapies that can slow, stop, or reverse disease progression. Cure Parkinson's prioritises research likely to translate into clinical trials within five years and plays a pioneering role in accelerating drug development through its International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) initiative, which has influenced nearly 30% of all potentially disease-modifying Parkinson's treatments in active clinical trials.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Quarterly Research Grant Programme (Rolling, four meetings annually)

  • Preclinical research: Up to £250,000 for projects likely to lead to clinical trials within 5 years
  • Clinical research: Flexible grant amounts for clinical trials and sub-studies of trials in people with Parkinson's
  • Applications: Two-stage process with quarterly deadlines
  • Eligibility: International, open to academics and commercial entities (costs must be justified and equivalent to academic rates)

2. iLCT Pipeline Research Acceleration Programme

  • Cure Parkinson's commissions specific pre-clinical research necessary to move promising drugs closer to clinical trial
  • Based on recommendations from the International Linked Clinical Trials committee (20+ world-leading Parkinson's experts)
  • Not open applications - charity actively identifies and commissions research

Priority Areas

  • Disease-modifying therapies that potentially slow, stop, or reverse Parkinson's progression
  • Research with potential to translate into clinic within five years
  • Both preclinical and clinical research that advances knowledge toward a cure
  • Projects that can lead to clinical trials in people with Parkinson's
  • Focus on repurposing existing drugs and novel therapeutic approaches

What They Don't Fund

  • Symptomatic treatments that only manage symptoms without modifying disease progression
  • Research focused solely on quality of life improvements without disease-modifying potential
  • Projects unlikely to reach clinical trials within five years
  • Clinical research in populations without Parkinson's disease
  • Research without clear pathway to cure
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Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership

  • CEO: Helen Matthews (appointed 2023), who states the charity's mission is "clear and urgent, to find the cure for Parkinson's that is so desperately needed"
  • Counsel (Special Projects): Will Cook (former CEO 2017-2023), continues work on major clinical trial funding partnerships

Board of Trustees

  • Chair: Mike Ashton (appointed 2024), brings extensive experience in business growth strategy, brand and marketing management, and governance
  • Previous Chair: Peter Berners-Price (involved since charity founded in 2005)
  • Recent Trustee Appointments (2025): Jane Hodges (financial and legal professional), Mathew Llewellyn (chartered accountant, IT industry), Phoebe Stamford-Moroz (governance specialist)

Key Principles

Trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Trustees are appointed for their experience, skills, and commitment to finding a cure for Parkinson's.

Founder's Legacy

Tom Isaacs, co-founder and late president, emphasized: "Patients don't care what you know, until they know how much you care." His vision of collaborative research continues to drive the organization's strategy.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Application Portal: Details available at cureparkinsons.org.uk/research/for-researchers/apply-for-funding/

Decision Timeline

  • Committee Meetings: Four times per year (quarterly)
  • Review Process: Approximately 3 months from submission to decision (can be longer for clinical trials requiring iterative approach)
  • Notification: All applicants notified by Research Committee Chair or Cure Parkinson's representative
  • External Review: Stage 2 applications undergo at least two detailed peer reviews from advisory panel members and world experts

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The charity reviews applications according to criteria including proximity to cure, originality, potential clinical impact, and achievability.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in publicly available materials. Applicants should contact research@cureparkinsons.org.uk for guidance on resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Critical Success Criteria

Five-Year Translatability: “Projects need to have the five-year strategic ethos for translatability with a definitive endpoint. To have a successful grant you really need to know what the charity wants, and what their direction is.” (Research Committee intern advice)

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Clinical Trials:

  • Phase 2 trial of dapansutrile (anti-inflammatory drug) with Van Andel Institute (2024)
  • Phase 1b trial of low-dose lithium exploring disease-modification potential (2024)
  • Phase 3 trial of ambroxol (cough medicine) as disease-modifying therapy (2023)

Preclinical Projects:

  • Probucol and chlorogenic acid evaluation for Parkinson's (Dr Poonam Thakur, IISER, India, 2024)
  • Carnosic acid (found in sage and rosemary) research (Dr Sinead O'Sullivan, DZNE, Germany, 2024)
  • Gut inflammation and Parkinson's onset/progression (Dr Sandra Cardoso, University of Coimbra, Portugal, 2023)
  • Probenecid and thiosalicylic acid for mitochondrial dysfunction (Professor Heather Mortiboys, University of Sheffield, 2023)

Key Language and Terminology

  • “Disease-modifying therapies”
  • “Proximity to cure”
  • “Translational potential”
  • “Clinical impact”
  • “Five-year pathway to clinical trial”

Strategic Alignment

  • Understand the charity's focus on urgency and cure-oriented research
  • Demonstrate clear pathway from preclinical research to clinical trials
  • Show potential for collaboration and partnership
  • Consider alignment with iLCT priorities (review their prioritized drugs list)

Common Success Factors

  • Clear disease-modifying mechanism of action
  • Robust preclinical or epidemiological evidence
  • Realistic timeline to clinical trials (within 5 years)
  • Strong research team with track record
  • Potential for rapid translation to patient benefit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Disease-modification is paramount: Only apply if your research genuinely targets slowing, stopping, or reversing Parkinson's progression, not just symptom management
  • Five-year rule is critical: Your project must realistically demonstrate potential to reach clinical trials within five years to be competitive
  • Contact before applying: If uncertain about fit, email the research team first to avoid wasting time on out-of-scope applications
  • Study the iLCT initiative: Understanding the International Linked Clinical Trials committee's priorities and prioritized drugs can help align your research strategy
  • International scope is genuine: The charity truly funds globally and accepts applications from academics and commercial entities
  • Collaboration is valued: The charity was built on collaborative research principles and values partnerships that accelerate drug development
  • Two-stage process requires patience: Plan for 3+ months from initial submission to decision, with potential for iterative discussion on clinical trials
  • Proximity to cure matters most: Applications are explicitly evaluated on “proximity to cure” - demonstrate how your research directly advances this goal

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