It’s estimated that nearly 10 million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that can lead to debilitating physical and cognitive complications. With another 60,000 people diagnosed every year, finding a cure for this disease is a top priority. That’s why professionals such as Dr. Michael J. Cima are joining forces with CureNow:PD to fight Parkinson’s and find a cure. Here are some of Dr. Cima’s most noteworthy accomplishments throughout his career.

Who Is Dr. Michael J. Cima?

An Accomplished Academic

After earning his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Michael J. Cima entered the academic community by joining the MIT faculty as an Assistant Professor. After decades of accomplishments in the field, Cima is currently a professor with MIT’s Materials Science and Engineering Department with an appointment at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. Specializing in medical device innovations and drug delivery techniques, Cima has gained many notable awards in the health care field, including the following:

• ALCOA Foundation Science Award
• International Award of Materials Engineering for Resource
• Fulrath Award

Having published more than 250 research papers in the medical field, Cima offers incredible insights to strengthen the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

A Health Care Advocate

In addition to authoring scientific papers that have expanded medical knowledge, Professor Cima holds 58 patents, has founded four biotech companies, and has contributed to advancements in materials processing. Through his deep understanding of engineering systems for human health, Cima has assisted in the improvement of treatments for complex diseases, including cancer, metabolic conditions, and urological conditions. In particular, he has contributed to the development of micro-components to enhance drug delivery and diagnostic techniques.  

A Pharmaceutical Pioneer

In addition to developing innovative drug delivery and diagnostic resources, Michael J. Cima has served as a management team member and senior consultant at Transform Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  He is also recognized as the co-founder of specialty pharmaceutical and medical diagnostic companies, such as SpringLeaf Therapeutics and T2 Biosystems. With his entrepreneurial background, Cima is adept at navigating the many challenges presented by the pharmaceuticals industry—a major obstacle of advancing treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Connecticut Advocates for Parkinson’s believes that we need to aggressively pursue a cure for this debilitating disease that affects over one million people in the U.S. alone. To make this goal a reality, our Cure Now:PD initiative has partnered with both Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The MIT Parkinson’s Research Initiative potentially fills a gap in existing research using nanotechnology and cutting-edge tools, found only in the labs of MIT. To take action in our search for the cure, visit CureNowPD.ORG/MIT to learn more about our out-of-the-box research at MIT, and support our work with a donation.