The goal of the Parkinson's Foundation Visiting Scholar Award is to provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with opportunities for expanding their existing skillset to benefit their Parkinson's research. Gone are the days when research is done in silos. Collaboration and learning from one another are key aspects of research conducted today, regardless of the field. The Visiting Scholar Program provides this opportunity so that future Parkinson's research continues to be innovative, creative, and multi-disciplinary.
This award provides a $4,000 stipend to support the travel and housing of scholar while visiting a host laboratory to learn new techniques that will benefit their Parkinson's research. Examples include microscopy, molecular biology, surgical techniques, computer modeling, and others. While the goal is to learn a new technique, it should not be done in isolation. A small project incorporating the new technique is required, ideally incorporating the Scholars's current research project. Scholars will work under the close supervision of the principal investigator of the host laboratory who will oversee the project. The award is to be used at the Scholar's discretion to supplement research costs or to supplement travel and housing costs while visiting the host laboratory.
Upon completion of their project, Scholars are invited to apply for up to $1,000 in travel funds to attend a related scientific conference to present their research.
Note: this award may be taxable; an IRS form 1099 will be sent to the recipient at the end of the calendar year.
High-scoring proposals directly advance:
PD pathogenesis mechanisms
Therapeutic development (drug, device, neuromodulation)
Disease progression / neuroprotection
Biomarkers (fluid, imaging, digital)
Cognition, mood, and neuropsychiatric symptoms
Gait, balance, and falls
Sleep, autonomic symptoms
Health equity & access to care
Patient-centered quality-of-life research
❗ Generic movement disorder or general neurodegeneration projects must strongly justify PD relevance.
Each PF award is designed for a specific stage and purpose:
| Mechanism | Ideal Candidate | Strong Predictors |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellowships | Trainees in PD research | Strong mentorship + feasibility |
| Early-Career Investigator Awards | Junior faculty | Preliminary data + PD independence |
| Impact Awards | New ideas | High innovation + rapid feasibility |
| Clinical Research Awards | Clinician-scientists | Access to PD cohorts + measurable outcomes |
| Community Grants | Programs serving PwP | Patient impact & sustainability |
Predictor: Align career stage + scope + expected outcomes with the right funding line.
PF strongly prioritizes ideas that change lives, including:
New symptomatic or disease-modifying therapies
Digital health monitoring & telehealth
Behavioral interventions improving mobility or cognition
Models enabling translation to clinic
Interdisciplinary strategies (engineering, AI, rehab science)
Predictor: Show how your work will improve patient outcomes within the foreseeable future.
Especially important for Investigator and Impact Awards:
Pilot data demonstrating feasibility
Early mechanistic or therapeutic signal
Reliable access to PD biospecimens or datasets
Analytics validated in small patient/animal studies
Predictor: Preliminary data significantly increases competitiveness.
High-impact proposals leverage:
Parkinson’s Outcomes Project data
PD GENEration or genetic cohorts
Imaging and biospecimen repositories
Clinical trial networks
Movement disorder clinics with recruitment capacity
Predictor: Human relevance = strong review scores.
Reviewers expect:
Mentor with strong PD expertise & funding record
Structured training plan and regular contact
Protected research time
Institutional support for independence
Predictor: Mentorship quality is one of the highest-weighted criteria in trainee programs.
PF is highly stakeholder-driven:
Outcomes meaningful to People with Parkinson’s (PwP)
Engagement of patient advisory groups
Practicality and real-world translation plans
Clear metrics for functional benefit (e.g., falls, fatigue, speech)
Predictor: Patient voice must be prominent.
Strengthens both scientific rigor and clinical feasibility:
Neurologists + neuroscientists + rehab/engineering
Multi-site clinical studies
Partnerships with PD consortia and data networks
Predictor: Collaboration boosts reviewer confidence and impact.
Best-performing proposals have:
2–3 straightforward aims
Measurable milestones
Statistical analysis plans
Go/no-go criteria and backup strategies
Fit within funding period (often 1–2 years)
Predictor: Feasibility and clarity = top scoring category.
High-scoring PF proposals are:
Well-structured
Supported by visual preliminary data
Explicit about significance, milestones, and impact
Easy for clinicians and scientists to evaluate
Predictor: Strong communication improves enthusiasm and scoring.
| Predictor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| PD-specific significance | Core eligibility |
| Mechanism alignment | Ensures reviewers see correct scope |
| Innovation + patient relevance | Central priority |
| Preliminary data | Demonstrates feasibility |
| Access to PD cohorts/models | Human relevance |
| Strong mentorship/environment | Execution confidence |
| Patient-centered design | Mission alignment |
| Collaboration | Increases rigor and deliverability |
| Focused aims | Realistic progress |
| Clear writing | Helps maximize reviewer scores |
PhD students and postdoctoral fellows conducting Parkinson's research for their thesis are eligible for this program. This program is open to applicants regardless of nationality or location. Each applicant must identify a mentor with whom he or she will conduct the proposed project. Students must be in their second year or later, and have an expected graduate date no sooner than 6 months after the end of the summer project.
Host mentors and their laboratory are not required to conduct Parkinson's research, but the technique learned must be applicable to Parkinson's research. The host laboratory must be a significant distance from the Fellow's institution and must not be an affiliate of the Fellow's Institution.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Parkinson's Foundation
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 1359 Broadway, Ste 1509, New York, NY 10018, USA
Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.
Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.
Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.
Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.
Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.
Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.
Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.
Jan 26, 2026
Jan 26, 2026
$5,000
Affiliation: Parkinson's Foundation
Address: 1359 Broadway, Ste 1509, New York, NY 10018, USA
Website URL: https://www.parkinson.org/advancing-research/for-researchers/fellowships-early-career-awards#VisitingScholarAwards
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.