Ever since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 2000, actor Michael J. Fox has devoted himself to raising money for research to hopefully one day find a cure for the disease. Now, he has just announced that his foundation is giving away over $24 million in grants for researching and treating Parkinson’s disease.

Fox started the Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research soon after he was diagnosed, and in the past 19 years, the foundation has raised over $800 million for Parkinson’s research. The $24 million that the foundation is donating now will be given in the form of 127 new grant awards for various projects seeking to understand, treat, diagnose, and measure the progression of Parkinson’s.

One of the projects that is being funded with the money is being conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where they are investigating the genetics of Parkinson’s disease “from an unusual and promising angle.” The most common genetic risk factors in Parkinson’s are mutations in the gene known as GBA, which stands for glucocerebrosidase beta acid. Associate professor of molecular science Justin O’Sullivan and his team are planning to use a 3D genome-mapping tool to find out the connections between the genes.

The experts believe that the gene is acting as “DNA switches” and disrupting the functioning of other genes that GBA comes into contact with via the way that DNA is coiled inside cells.

“Most research into GBA’s role in Parkinson’s focuses on whether GBA mutations hamper the activity of a particular enzyme, a member of the cell’s ‘cleaning crew’ that degrades damaged or surplus cell parts,” Dr O’Sullivan said. “We’re coming at it from a totally different angle – we’re looking into whether ‘switches’ inside GBA mutations turn up or down the functioning of other genes that they come into contact with. We think some of the more unusual findings about GBA might be able to be explained if it has connections to other genes.”

“If we are right, we will identify a network of interrelated Parkinson’s genes. This may help advance research efforts for therapies, and bring together previously confusing or unrecognized connections,” he continued. “For us, this grant is an amazing opportunity to investigate a disorder that has a huge impact on people. We hope to make insights that ultimately make a real difference to patients.”

We applaud Fox for devoting his life to help find a cure for Parkinson’s and in turn, help those afflicted with this disease. Please join us in saying a prayer that they do find a cure!