The University of British Columbia (UBC) has been selected by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) as one of eight international academic institutions to train a new movement disorder clinician-researcher — a neurologist with specific training and expertise in diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s disease (PD) — as part of the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders Class of 2028.

The Edmond J. Safra Fellow will complete their training at UBC’s Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH) under the mentorship of Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, a movement disorder neurologist and researcher specializing in PD. Dr. Appel-Cresswell is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine’s Division of Neurology, holds the Marg Meikle Professorship in Parkinson’s disease and also directs the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre, where she is advancing clinical care and research that benefits people living with Parkinson’s and related disorders.

“For individuals with Parkinson’s, access to a specialist is critical for managing the disease effectively,” says Dr. Appel-Cresswell, a member of the DMCBH and also co-founder of the BC Brain Wellness Program. “We are honoured to be selected by The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Edmond J. Safra Foundation to help shape the next generation of clinician-researchers. Our Centre is committed to training leaders who will advance equity in care, drive scientific discovery and improve outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s disease.”

Today, more than six million people globally live with PD, a number expected to double by 2040 due to an aging population. The need for highly trained movement disorder specialists is urgent, with many patients facing long wait times and significant barriers to accessing care. The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders directly addresses this shortage by funding two-year clinical research fellowships at world-class institutions.

Through the commitment of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship is making a tangible impact around the world by enhancing access to high-quality patient care, leading scientific advances toward better understanding and treatment of movement disorders, and engaging local or underrepresented communities.

Now in its 11th year, the Fellowship has funded 41 institutions across 13 countries to date. In total, 48 new movement disorder specialists, including this year’s class, will have graduated since the program launched in 2014. The program is on track to graduate 103 movement disorder specialists by the year 2031.

The Class of 2028 awardees are:

  • Amsterdam University Medical Centers in Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Corporacion CETRAM in Lo Espejo, Chile
  • Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, USA
  • Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, Canada
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama, USA
  • University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada
  • University of Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland
  • Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA

An external review committee of movement disorder specialists, assembled by MJFF, selected the eight institutions from a highly competitive global group of applicants. Selection of awardees was based on several criteria, including their history of training successful movement disorder clinician-researchers; the breadth and depth of clinical care and research education; and training opportunities that equip fellows with the skills and knowledge to advance equitable access and diversity across clinical care services, research, education and community outreach.

“We are thrilled to be part of building a global network of Parkinson’s clinician-researchers through the world-renowned Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders,” says Dr. Appel-Cresswell. “These highly trained Parkinson’s experts will usher in the next chapter of patient care and research and be uniquely positioned to move the field forward.”

UBC is now recruiting a fellow for the Class of 2028 Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders. The candidate will begin their two-year training on or before July 2026.

The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship is made possible by the vision and generosity of the late Mrs. Lily Safra, former chairwoman of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation and MJFF Board member, in memory of her husband Edmond J. Safra, who lived with Parkinson’s disease. The Fellowship reflects her shared commitment to accelerating a cure and expanding access to expert care worldwide.

To learn more about the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders and the latest updates on the program, visit: www.michaeljfox.org/edmond-j-safra-fellowship-movement-disorders

 

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF)
As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding $2.5 billion in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; creates a robust open- access data set and biosample library to speed scientific breakthroughs and treatment with its landmark clinical study, PPMI; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

About the Edmond J. Safra Foundation
Edmond J. Safra, one of the 20th century’s most accomplished bankers and a devoted philanthropist, established a major charitable foundation to ensure that individuals and organizations would continue to receive his assistance and encouragement for many years to come. Led for more than twenty years by his beloved wife Lily, the Edmond J. Safra Foundation draws continuing inspiration from Mr. and Mrs. Safra’s values and priorities, supporting hundreds of organizations and programs in more than forty countries around the world. Its work encompasses four areas: education; science and medicine; religion; and humanitarian assistance, culture, and social welfare. The Foundation has provided significant funding for Parkinson’s disease research and patient care at dozens of hospitals and institutes in places as varied as Natal (Brazil), Toronto, New York, Grenoble, Paris, London and Jerusalem.