SVP, Clinical Research
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As SVP of Clinical Research, at The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), Katie Kopil focuses on building the Foundation’s capacity as an unprecedented stakeholder in Parkinson’s drug development — a nimble, patient-focused problem-solver whose efforts are demonstrably accelerating progress toward treatment breakthroughs. Katie leads MJFF’s clinical research strategy including funding for clinical stage therapeutic programs, development of patient-centered endpoints for use in clinical trials, investments in landmark Parkinson's natural history studies including the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, programs critical to patient engagement in research, and innovation to clarify market access pathways for treatments that make a difference in the community. Prior to joining the Foundation, Katie completed doctoral and postdoctoral training in neuroscience and bioengineering respectively at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focused on brain injury that occurs during acute trauma such as cardiac arrest and concussion. Katie also helped speed research as a clinical trial coordinator at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, which is where her dual passions for science and serving patients first intersected. Katie graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Psychology and holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young children.