Taking part in research is vital in determining which therapies work in treating Parkinson’s. New treatments will only become available after they have been tested in those volunteers affected by the condition.

Taking part in research also enables more accurate diagnoses, better predictions of future disease progression and more insight into the biology of the condition.

Taking part comes in many forms

  • Online Surveys where the data is made available to researchers
  • Observational studies
  • Studies looking at genetic risk factors: these can be clinical or online
  • Trials of new technology: wearables, apps, devices or even imaging techniques
  • Clinical trials of therapies
  • Clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies

Things to think about when signing up to a study

  • Who might I need around me to support me in making the decision and in taking part?
  • Where is the study based and does the schedule of visits suit me? Who is involved from the study team? How long is it? Will I get my result and when will that be?
  • Are there any assessments or procedures included where I might need more information?
  • What happens to my data?
  • Have people with Parkinson’s been involved in shaping this study?

Cure Parkinson’s funds and supports clinical trials which seek to slow, stop or reverse Parkinson’s. Many trials which are recruiting now are part of our International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) programme developed in partnership with Van Andel Institute.

Find Out More About…
Our approach The science behind Parkinson’s Curing Parkinson’s The International Linked Clinical Trials Programme (iLCT)

International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) recruiting now

Find iLCT trials recruiting now

Other studies recruiting

My Moves Matter

My Moves Matter is an app co-founded by Richelle Flanagan, a Parkinson’s advocate, to help people with Parkinson’s track and manage medications, symptoms, and more. Currently, University College Cork is recruiting women with Parkinson’s to participate in a pilot study involving this app to gather information on how menstrual cycles affect Parkinson’s symptoms. If you are interested in participating, please visit their website using the link below.

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Parkinson’s Family Project

The Parkinson’s Family Project is looking for anyone who developed Parkinson’s before the age of 45 or who has Parkinson’s and other family members who have or have had Parkinson’s to participate in their genetic study. This research aims find new genes that contribute to Parkinson’s disease risk and clinical features. Participants will be asked to donate blood samples for genetic analysis, complete movement and cognitive assessments, and give permission to share their medical records. If you are interested in taking part or would like to find out more, please email the team.

Contact the study team
The Predict-PD Study – an online study

PREDICT-PD is a ground-breaking project using simple tests to identify people at high risk of Parkinson’s disease before the symptoms appear. If we can predict who is going to get Parkinson’s, we will soon have treatments for those in the early stages that could slow or prevent the condition progressing.

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EJS ACT-PD – A call for people with Parkinson’s and care partners to contribute

EJS ACT-PD are looking for people with an interest in research to form a wider patient and carer/partner network. Members of this network would agree to be contacted by the EJS ACT-PD team with requests for input when they arise. The range of input requested from members will vary but may include being asked to complete online surveys.

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PD Nexus – an online study

PD Nexus is supporting research efforts for Parkinson’s through remote participant screening, genetic testing and counselling, education in Parkinson’s disease genetics, travel coordination, digital applications, study adherence, tissue procurement and distribution, and more.

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QMAP-PD

QMAP-PD is an ongoing study using advanced brain imaging techniques based at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL. The aim of this work is to better understand the causes of variability between individuals with a common disorder called Parkinson’s disease.

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Mobilise-D

Mobility – how well we walk – is an important marker of health; a slow walking speed is associated with greater mortality, morbidity, cognitive decline, dementia, and fall risk. Mobilise-D will develop a comprehensive system to monitor and evaluate people’s gait based on digital technologies, including sensors worn on the body. The Mobilise-D results will help to improve the accurate assessment of daily life mobility in clinical trials and patient treatment, thereby contributing to improved and more personalised care.

Find out more about taking part

Other research study websites which might be of interest:

The Hope List

The Hope List is compiled by Dr Kevin McFarthing about projects to develop new therapies for Parkinson’s. Originally a PhD biochemist, Kevin’s career included R&D leadership positions in life sciences research products, diagnostics and consumer healthcare. He is joint editor of the Clinical Trial Highlights section of the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease and a member of the Research Committee of Cure Parkinson’s. Kevin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2012 at the age of 55.
There are two groups within The Hope List: research and clinical.
The research projects are broken down by phase (discovery and pre-clinical); whether the potential therapy is aimed at modifying the course of Parkinson’s (DMT) or to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms (ST); and the type of therapy being developed.

Read more here.

Fox Trial Finder

Fox Trial Finder is a user-friendly online matching tool from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) which helps you find observational studies and clinical trials in your area.

Find out more.

Fox Insight

Fox Insight is an online clinical study building a large, diverse cohort of people with Parkinson’s and age-matched control volunteers to provide the research community with critical insight into the lived experience, genetics and variability of Parkinson’s.

Find out more.

ClinicalTrials.gov

ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.

Find out more.

PDTrialTracker.Info

The goal of PDTrialTracker.info is to provide Parkinson’s patients, families, researchers, health care providers, and other interested members of the PD community with analysis of ongoing PD clinical trials and observational studies throughout the world in order to:

  • understand the types of trials underway and where they are in the pipeline,
  • highlight the most promising avenues of research (e.g., particular disease modifying therapies, symptomatic treatments)
  • uncover roadblocks in the trial process and ways to address them (e.g., improving recruitment methods, enhancing clinical trial best practices),
  • promote accurate and timely sharing of trial information for ongoing and completed trials (e.g., within ClinicalTrials.gov),
  • facilitate greater collaboration between Parkinson’s patients, families, researchers, and physicians to accelerate progress towards a cure.

Find out more.

Parkinson’s UK

If you are in the UK you can visit the Parkinson’s UK website for help with finding research studies recruiting.

Find out more.

The NIHR – Be Part of Research Campaign

If you are in the UK, ‘Be Part of Research’ can help you find out about health and social care research that is taking place across the UK.

Find out more.

Clinical Trials Charter

If you are thinking of volunteering for a clinical trial, the Clinical Trials Charter aims to set a standard of practice for those involved in clinical trials for Parkinson’s.

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Clinical trial highlights section: Journal of Parkinson’s Disease

To raise awareness of the clinical trial landscape in Parkinson’s

Find out more
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