The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research and Wellness presented a $125,000 cheque to the Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and University Hospital on Wednesday. The donation, presented by Phinney himself, is earmarked for the Davis Phinney-Donald Krumme Fund at the UC College of Medicine, which supports research into the causes of and treatments for Parkinson's disease. The funds were raised from Sunflower Revolution II, a gala, educational symposium, and bike ride held in Cincinnati last August. The 2006 Sunflower Revolution is scheduled for October 13-15.
The Neuroscience Institute plans to use the Davis Phinney Foundation gift to fund laboratory research, clinical trials involving patients with Parkinson's disease, and fellowship opportunities for young physicians training to become Parkinson's specialists.
"In these times of ever diminishing federal funding for biomedical research, this generous grant from the Davis Phinney Foundation will enable scientists at UC to lead the advances in deciphering the underlying causes and discovering potential cures for this devastating movement disorder," said Kim Seroogy, Ph.D., professor of neurology and director of the Selma Schottenstein Laboratory for Research in Parkinson's Disease.
Fredy J. Revilla, M.D., who heads the Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders at The Neuroscience Institute, thanked Phinney "for taking the lead and showing us a unique path in the race to find a cure."
Phinney, who in 1986 became the first American to win a stage of the Tour de France, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's at age 40. He assumed the role of Parkinson's advocate with the formation of his foundation in 2004.
