MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for companies developing Parkinson's therapies, from US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore) to upwards of US$5 million. Pre-proposals accepted any time.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Michael J. Fox Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Therapeutics Pipeline Program (TPP) is the flagship funding program of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), the world's largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's research. It funds pre-clinical and clinical development of disease-modifying or symptomatic treatments for Parkinson's disease, plus the integration and analysis of biomarker tools that inform key development decisions. Awards range from US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore) for smaller, targeted programs to upwards of US$5 million (about ₹47.5 crore) for later development. Pre-proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
This is a biotech and therapeutics funding program, not a general startup grant. It is open to non-US companies, which means an Indian biotech, pharma or medical device company with a Parkinson's therapy program can apply. It does not suit software, wellness or general health startups.
What the program offers
The program funds projects over the course of one to two years for pre-clinical work and two to three years for clinical work. Award sizes depend on the scope and development phase of the program. One part of the MJFF page lists awards from US$250,000 for smaller, targeted programs to more than US$5 million for programs further along in development, while another summary line lists US$1 million to US$5 million over two to three years. The two ranges do not match exactly, so confirm the expected size with MJFF early.
MJFF also offers consultation while you prepare a full proposal, and office hours for questions and partnerships after an invitation. Funded work falls under MJFF's Open Science Policy, which requires research outputs such as preprints, articles, data, code and software to be shared openly, free to access and with persistent identifiers.
Who can apply
The program is open to industry applicants and to academic-industry partnerships, so that projects have a clearer path to market. U.S. and non-U.S. biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies can apply. Academic-led projects are accepted only in certain cases, which are set out in the RFA overview document rather than on the main page.
The project must aim at a disease-modifying or symptomatic therapy for Parkinson's disease, or at biomarker tools that inform decisions in such a program. The Foundation will not consider:
- Early target discovery, for example genomic or transcriptomic analyses
- Validation studies with tool compounds that have no viable path to a therapy
- Standalone biomarker discovery or therapy platform work not tied to a specific Parkinson's therapy program
- Simple reformulation of an approved therapy without a strong unmet-need rationale
- Evaluation of dietary or nutritional supplements
- Natural history studies or similar exploratory clinical data collection
How to apply
Download the RFA overview and the pre-clinical or clinical pre-proposal template from the program page. Log in or create an account in the MJFF grant application portal, then submit a complete pre-proposal at any time. MJFF reviews pre-proposals within three weeks. Full proposals are by invitation only: if you are selected, you are told by email and assigned to the next available review cycle. A practical tip: read the RFA overview first and, if you are unsure your project fits, ask MJFF before spending time on the template.
How applications are judged and what happens next
MJFF scientific staff review each pre-proposal and invite the most promising projects to submit a full proposal. Funding decisions are communicated within three months of the full proposal submission. The page lists five review cycles for 2027, with full proposals due on 14 January, 11 March, 20 May and 22 July 2027 (after an earlier due date of 30 October 2026), and anticipated award announcements running from January to October 2027. The page itself does not set out the review criteria; the RFA overview may.
About the Michael J. Fox Foundation
MJFF describes its mission as charting the path to a future free from Parkinson's disease, and says it aims to speed a cure for the 6 million people living with Parkinson's worldwide. It is a non-profit and the program is its flagship therapeutics funding.
Things to check before you apply
- The two funding ranges on the program page differ, so confirm the amount appropriate for your phase.
- Open Science Policy applies to everything you publish or produce with MJFF money, so check it against your intellectual property plans.
- The page does not address indirect costs, biosample access or how foreign applicants are paid, so ask MJFF or read the RFA overview.
- Foreign grants carry tax and compliance questions; an Indian company should take advice on how funding from a US foundation is treated.
- Full proposals are by invitation only, so the pre-proposal must make the case clearly in one go.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Awards range from US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore) for smaller, targeted programs to upwards of US$5 million (about ₹47.5 crore) for programs at later stages of development, typically over two to three years. The budget is set with MJFF staff if you are invited to a full proposal and should match the work proposed. For-profit companies may put up to 10% of direct costs towards indirect costs. Funded teams can also use MJFF-sponsored biospecimen and cell line collections, office hours with MJFF staff, and MJFF's network of scientists, clinicians and the patient community.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
MJFF scientific staff review each pre-proposal and invite the most promising to submit a full proposal. Funding decisions are communicated within three months of the full proposal. The program page does not set out the review criteria; the RFA overview may.
Application Process
- 1
Pre-proposal
Submit a pre-proposal through the MJFF grant portal at any time.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program?
Industry applicants and academic-industry partnerships can apply. U.S. and non-U.S. biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies are eligible. Academic-led projects are accepted only in certain cases set out in the RFA overview.
Can Indian startups apply for the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program?
Yes, the page says non-U.S. companies can apply, so an Indian biotech, pharma or medical device company can submit a pre-proposal. The project must be a Parkinson's therapy program or related biomarker work. The page does not say how foreign recipients are paid.
How much funding does the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program give?
The funding details say awards range from US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore) for smaller, targeted programs to upwards of US$5 million (about ₹47.5 crore) for programs further along in development. A summary line on the same page gives US$1 million to US$5 million over two to three years. Confirm the range with MJFF.
How is MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline funding paid?
The page does not describe payment schedules, currency or milestones. Pre-clinical programs run for one to two years and clinical programs for two to three years. Ask MJFF for the payment terms when you are invited to submit a full proposal.
What is the deadline for the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program?
Pre-proposals are accepted at any time, so there is no deadline for the first step. Invited full proposals follow review cycles, with 2027 due dates of 14 January, 11 March, 20 May and 22 July. If you miss a cycle, you are assigned to the next available one.
Is the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program a grant or equity?
The page describes it as funding awarded to projects, and it mentions no equity being taken. Funded work falls under the Open Science Policy, which requires research outputs to be shared openly. Check the award terms for intellectual property details.
What documents do I need to apply to the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program?
You need the RFA overview and the pre-clinical or clinical pre-proposal template from the program page, plus an account in the MJFF grant application portal. You submit a complete pre-proposal first. A full proposal is requested only if you are invited.
Do I have to travel for the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program?
The page does not mention any travel. The process is through an online portal, with consultation and office hours available after an invitation.
Is it free to apply to the MJFF Therapeutics Pipeline Program?
The page does not state an application fee. Submission is through the grant application portal.
When will I hear back from MJFF after a pre-proposal?
MJFF reviews pre-proposals within three weeks of submission. Invited applicants then submit a full proposal, and funding decisions come within three months of that submission. Anticipated award announcements in 2027 run from January to October, depending on the cycle.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
