About

The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA began by supporting cutting edge research with the goal of discovering new therapeutic approaches to treating and preventing Parkinson’s Disease in GBA mutation carriers. After making several dozen grants to private biotech companies and academic labs, we have transitioned our focus to the Silverstein Fellowship program which will find and foster the next generation of GBA-PD researchers. 

To date, the Silverstein Foundation has:

~> Awarded 39 grants to innovative companies and academic labs, driving transformative change in the GBA-PD space.

~> Supported 26 fellows across 7 countries working on GBA-PD, cultivating a global network of creative problem-solvers.

Why Focus on Fellows?

This pivot to funding a robust post-doctoral fellowship program in GBA-PD has had a meaningful impact on fostering innovative thinking and improving the state of basic research in the field. The collaborations we have witnessed from the fellows have inspired a global collaborative environment that has yielded groundbreaking discoveries in GBA Parkinson’s research. 

By fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge through our “Open Science” initiative, we’ve generated novel findings that will significantly benefit the broader GBA-PD research community, advancing our collective understanding of this complex condition.

Moving forward, we’ll continue doing all that we can to empower our fellows to make an impact on the lives of those affected by GBA-PD.

What is GBA-PD?

GBA-PD is a genetic form of Parkinson’s disease caused by mutations in the GBA1 gene. The gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase, mutations in the gene lead to a deficiency of this enzyme which can cause toxic substances to accumulate in the brain. This accumulation is thought to contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease. Having one altered copy of the GBA gene increases the chance of developing the disease. 

Prevalence and Characteristics

GBA-PD accounts for approximately 5-10% of all Parkinson’s disease cases, making it one of the most common genetic causes of the disease. Individuals with GBA-PD often experience an earlier onset of symptoms and have a rigid-akinetic phenotype. They are also more likely to experience cognitive impairments, hallucinations, and other non-motor symptoms. Depending on the specific variant, having a single copy of the GBA gene can increase ones risk of getting Parkinson’s disease by 2 to 30 times.

Our Founder

Jonathan T. Silverstein, J.D./M.B.A., is a former Managing Partner and Co-Head of Global Private Equity at OrbiMed. He is currently an Executive Partner at OrbiMed, one of the world’s largest fully dedicated healthcare fund managers. During his tenure, OrbiMed invested in healthcare companies that have led to over 60 FDA approved therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics. For seven consecutive years, Forbes® Magazine named Mr. Silverstein one of the top 100 venture capitalists in the world when it placed him on the “Forbes Midas List”.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Mr. Silverstein learned that he was a carrier of the GBA mutation which had triggered his disease. He established The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA and began working with a team of the world’s leading GBA-PD experts to help him find a cure. Over his 20 years of experience in healthcare venture capital, Jonathan has had success in investing in therapeutics to treat PD and other rare diseases, making him well-positioned to take on this challenge.

Mr. Silverstein has a J.D. and an M.B.A. from the University of San Diego, and a B.A. in Economics from Denison University.