New Silvi Foundation funds research into Parkinson’s and related diseases
Initial $100K grant supports blood biomarker research at IND
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Silvi Foundation awards $100K for Parkinson’s blood biomarker research.
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Research aims to improve early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Blood-based biomarkers are low-cost and minimally invasive tools.
The Silvi Foundation has officially launched as a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research into Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
As its first initiative, the newly established foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND) to support research on blood-based biomarkers that may help enable earlier detection and diagnosis of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Foundation launches with first research grant
“The launch of the Silvi Foundation represents a deeply personal commitment for our family,” Joy Silvi, president of the Silvi Foundation, said in a company press release. “We have witnessed firsthand the impact neurodegenerative disease has on patients and caregivers. Our goal is to direct funding toward rigorous research and innovative approaches that can accelerate discovery and improve outcomes for families facing these conditions.”
The research grant focuses on identifying blood biomarkers that may indicate disease risk and progression in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The goal is to identify these changes early enough to help guide patient care and future research.
The grant will help fund laboratory equipment and supplies, salaries for IND’s research team, continued development of a national biorepository, and ongoing biomarker analysis.
Blood-based biomarkers are relatively low-cost, minimally invasive, and easy to repeat, unlike brain scans or spinal taps used to collect cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Although they are not used alone to diagnose disease, they can provide early signals that may prompt further testing.
Family legacy inspires research mission
According to the foundation, created in honor of Larry Silvi Sr., founder of Silvi Materials, and his wife, Rose Silvi, who battled Alzheimer’s disease, IND’s research has the potential to improve early diagnosis, support clinical trial design, help researchers better understand disease risk and progression, and enhance patient care.
Researchers at IND are developing approaches that combine multiple blood-based biomarkers and are working to define reference ranges and improve test sensitivity and accuracy so the results can be interpreted more reliably.
IND’s biomarker research is also supported by its Biorepository Study for Neurodegenerative Diseases, a long-term study collecting and analyzing blood samples from more than 100 individuals to help validate emerging biomarkers and support their development for clinical use.
In addition to research, the Silvi Foundation supports collaborative efforts across institutions and programs aimed at helping patients, caregivers, and families affected by neurodegenerative diseases. It also supports local programs and community events, including the renovation of Free Fall Action Park, a public outdoor recreation space designed to encourage healthy activity and promote inclusivity and engagement.
