The University of Zurich is one of eight institutions worldwide to receive funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for the further training of a specialist in Parkinson's disease at the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Zurich.
Parkinson’s is one of the most common neurological diseases. At least six million people worldwide live with Parkinson’s disease. More than 15,000 people are affected in Switzerland, and around 1,000 to 1,500 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year. Most of them are between 50 and 60 years old at the time of diagnosis; between five and ten percent of all sufferers are younger than 40.
Lack of care due to a lack of experts
Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured. However, medication and further treatments can alleviate the symptoms associated with the disease and thus massively improve the quality of life of those affected. It is therefore crucial for patients with Parkinson’s to be treated by specialists in their disease. However, the rapidly increasing number of Parkinson’s patients worldwide is matched by a limited number of specialists. This leads to long waiting times or long journeys to get to a specialist in the first place.
Better care for those affected through the training of specialists
The globally active Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has set itself the goal of promoting research into Parkinson’s and the care of people with Parkinson’s disease. The namesake and founder of the world’s largest non-profit organization in the field of Parkinson’s, actor Michael J. Fox, is himself affected and has been an active ambassador for the foundation for years. The MJFF finances research projects and the training of neurologists to become specialists in clinical research, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
The latter is made possible in particular by the commitment of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, which helps to increase the number of clinical researchers worldwide by awarding the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders.
The winners will receive funding to finance further training over two years to become a Parkinson’s expert. The institutions that receive a fellowship are selected by an independent commission of Parkinson’s specialists appointed by the MJFF in a highly competitive process.
The Parkinson’s team at the USZ wins one of eight fellowships
One of eight Edmond J. Safra Fellowships in Movement Disorders worldwide for the funding period 2026-2028 will be awarded to the Department of Neurology at the USZ. The clinic is responsible for selecting the fellow. Bettina Balint, Senior Physician in the Department of Neurology and specialist for Parkinson’s and movement disorders, and her team are delighted about the funding: “The fellowship enables us to support a specialist, and at the same time it is a great recognition and award for our interdisciplinary team of Parkinson’s specialists. The USZ thus offers people with Parkinson’s disease a comprehensive range of services, from diagnostics and all treatment options to support from specialized Parkinson’s nurses. The fellowship will make a significant contribution to training the next generation of Parkinson’s experts and researchers.” The position is expected to be advertised in September.
