Nicole K. Polinski

Nicole K. Polinski, PhD, serves as the Director of Research Programs at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, leading multi-million dollar investments in preclinical tool and model development efforts. In previous roles at MJFF, including Senior Associate Director and Associate Director, Polinski provided strategic leadership for several significant programs focusing on the role of inflammation in Parkinson's disease. Prior experience includes a position as a Graduate Research Assistant at Michigan State University, where Polinski researched viral vector-mediated gene therapy, and as an Early Career Policy Fellow, advocating for neuroscience research. Polinski holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College.