8 June 2026
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by early neuronal dysfunction and synaptic impairment that precede the onset of motor symptoms by many years. This prolonged prodromal phase represents a critical window for therapeutic intervention. However, despite growing insights into the multifactorial origins of PD, including mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory processes, and impaired protein homeostasis, there remains a major unmet need for approaches that can modify disease progression rather than solely alleviate symptoms.
Through this call on opnMe, we invite researchers from academia and industry to submit innovative proposals addressing the following question:
How would you propose to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets for disease modification in early‑stage Parkinson’s disease?
Proposals should outline a strong scientific hypothesis supported by relevant human data and describe feasible strategies for target validation in disease‑relevant models. Approaches may span a broad range of modalities and discovery strategies, provided they address mechanisms with the potential to modify disease progression.
Eligible solutions may come from diverse backgrounds, including academia, start‑ups, biotech, and larger pharmaceutical enterprises. All submissions will be reviewed by Boehringer Ingelheim’s Neuroscience Research experts. Successful proposals may receive tailored funding packages and collaboration opportunities, with the goal of advancing disease‑modifying approaches for Parkinson’s disease.
Submit your ideas now. Proposals will only be accepted if received by July 28, 2026, 11:59 pm PST.
No registration required
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About our opn2EXPERTS question:
How would you propose to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets for disease modification in early‑stage Parkinson’s disease? With ambitious questions such as this, we share precisely formulated scientific questions with the research community as part of our opn2EXPERTS program. Together with winning teams, we intend to explore novel solutions for discovery research that will ultimately benefit the needs of patients.
About opnMe:
opnMe.com, the open science portal of Boehringer Ingelheim, fosters science and collaboration initiatives in areas of high unmet medical need. Our molecules are provided to the scientific community either free of charge as “Molecules to Order” or applied for via scientific research submissions as “Molecules for Collaboration”. With “opn2EXPERTS” and “techMATCH”, we enlist scientific advice on key scientific topics to fuel further drug discovery and deliver novel solutions that benefit unmet patient needs. Our "opn2TALENTS" postdoc grants at one of our research sites offer opportunities for high-level talents to propose innovative approaches for precisely defined scientific questions.