Events

Community News

Projects

Symptomology Target Prioritization for Parkinson’s Disease

by | January 20, 2025

Who we are:

BCBA connects academic science trainees and recent graduates to the Bay Area’s biotech industry through hands-on consulting and due diligence projects. We are a volunteer organization composed of PhD students, post-docs, medical trainees, and young professionals looking to gain professional development for jobs in biotech companies, consulting, and venture capital. Over 450 scientists from across the country have participated in BCBA projects and have gone on to internships and full-time positions with leading biotech companies, consulting firms, and venture capitals firms.

 

Project timeline: Week of Feb 10th – Week of May 19th (12 weeks total)

 

Who you are:

  • A graduate or professional student (e.g., PhD, MS, MBA, MD, PharmD), postdoc, or recent graduate.
  • Highly motivated to gain life-science business experience and contribute to identifying therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Excited to enhance communication skills through conducting interviews with academic and industry key opinion leaders and presenting findings to the consulting team and client.
  • Interested or experienced in areas such as neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease) or related symptom domains such as cognitive, sleep, olfactory, motor impairments, and levodopa-induced dyskinesia.
  • Passionate about working in the non-profit sector, networking, and building meaningful, lasting connections with clients and industry leaders.
  • Able to dedicate 10-15 hours per week as a volunteer.

 

What you will do:

You will collaborate with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), a leading research organization dedicated to accelerating the development of therapies for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This project focuses on identifying and prioritizing symptomatic targets associated with PD to drive therapeutic advancements. Your work will involve conducting a comprehensive landscape analysis of approved and standard-of-care treatments for PD symptoms to uncover gaps and opportunities. Following this, you will evaluate and prioritize potential targets based on biological feasibility and therapeutic potential, specifically addressing unmet needs in PD treatment. Finally, you will develop de-risking plans for the highest-priority targets to facilitate their progression toward therapeutic development.

 

This project offers a unique opportunity to work closely with MJFF scientists, industry leaders, and investors, providing valuable insights into the critical role of non-profit organizations in drug development and translational research. Additionally, you will have the chance to present your findings directly to stakeholders and research experts, with the potential to share your work at an in-person MJFF workshop. This collaboration allows you to make a meaningful impact on advancing therapies for Parkinson’s Disease while building skills in target evaluation, market analysis, and strategic planning.

 

 

What you will get:

  • Hands-on experience conducting consulting-style research, including asset landscaping, clinical trials analysis, strategic development, interviewing key opinion leaders, and heatmap prioritization.
  • Opportunities to develop your professional network and communication skills through interactions with the client, interviewed stakeholders, teammates, and BCBA leadership.
  • Valuable skills that will make you highly competitive for careers in entrepreneurship, consulting, venture capital, and business development.
  • Reimbursement for meals during team meetings

 

To Apply: Please submit this Google form by Sunday, Feb 2nd , 2025

More information about BCBA can be found here. Please reach out to info@biotechconnectionbay.org if you have any questions!