Take part in Parkinson's research - list of UK studies
Our list highlights Parkinson's research projects in the UK that
are looking for participants.
Anyone with Parkinson's who is considering taking part in a research study should consult their neurologist.
Although some studies involve testing new Parkinson's
treatments, many focus on helping us understand the condition
better.
Our list is provided for information only. It should not be
treated as advice or a recommendation to participate in any of the
studies.
If you have Parkinson's and you're
considering taking part in a research study, consult your
neurologist and speak to the healthcare professionals managing the
study.
Find UK studies by region
To find out more about getting involved in a study please
contact the researchers directly.
Can't find a suitable research study?
For opportunities in your area, talk to your consultant and
Parkinson's nurse, or contact your local DeNDRoN network
if you live in England or NeuroDem Cymru if you live in
Wales.
Fox Trial Finder
Fox Trial Finder is a new web-based
clinical trial matching tool developed by the Michael J Fox
Foundation.
To use Fox Trial Finder you'll need to create an account with
some information about yourself - such as your postcode, date of
birth and a brief medical history - and the trial finder will
find studies to match.
Find out more about Fox
Trial Finder
Web-based studies
23andme Parkinson's genetics study
This web-based study, supported by Google co-founder Sergey
Brin, aims to uncover vital changes in genes that affect risk of
developing Parkinson's.
Taking part involves providing a sample of spit (for DNA
analysis) and completing online surveys.
Who: 10,000 people with Parkinson's with access
to the internet
Need more information?
Visit the 23andme website
Contact
pd-help@23andme.com
UK-wide studies
UK-wide research studies are conducted at more than one medical
centre or clinic. Most large clinical trials are conducted across a
number of clinical research centres. This helps to recruit a wider
diversity of participants and produce a better study.
Tracking Parkinson's
This ambitious 5-year project, fully funded by Parkinson's UK -
and launched in Parkinson's Awareness Week
2012 - aims to speed up our search for a cure by finding
'biomarkers'. We need thousands of people with Parkinson's across
the UK to get involved to make this project a success.
- Where: Hospitals across all UK regions
- Who: People diagnosed with Parkinson's within
the last 3 years
- Deadline: December 2013
- Funded by: Parkinson's UK
Need more information?
More about Tracking Parkinson's,
including a short film and how to take part
PD DNA: Studying the genetics of neurodegerative
disorders
This study aims to collect a single blood sample from people
with Parkinson's, multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive
supranuclear palsy (PSP), motor neurone disease or dementia. The
blood will be used to study genes and proteins which may be
involved in neurodegenerative conditions.
- Where: Sites throughout the UK:
Full list of sites and contacts for
PD DNA study (Word, 93KB)
- Who: People with Parkinson's MSA, PSP, motor
neurone disease or dementia who have not given a DNA sample to
another national collection study (like Tracking Parkinson's or PD
GEN)
- Deadline: 31 May 2013
- Funded by: Medical Research Council
(MRC)
Need more information?
PD DNA -
participant information sheet (Word, 173KB)
Contact
Dr Camille Carroll, Consultant Neurologist, Plymouth Hospitals
NHS Trust
camille.carroll@pms.ac.uk
01752 437 420
Non-motor symptoms in early Parkinson's
This international study is investigating when symptoms such as
sleep problems, fatigue, pain and depression occur during the
condition, how they develop and how they respond to treatments.
- Where: Hospitals in London, Kent, Norwich,
Yeovil, Harrogate, Lincoln, Macclesfield and Grantham
- Who: 1,000 people diagnosed with Parkinson's
for 5 years or less
- Deadline: February 2016
- Funded by: Parkinson's Disease Non-Motor
Group
Need more information?
Non-motor
symptoms in early Parkinson's - study information sheet (PDF,
80KB)
Contact
Ms Alex Rizos, King's College Hospital, London
020 3299 7153
a.rizos@nhs.net
MUSTARDD-PD: testing a drug for early dementia in Parkinson's
This study will test whether a drug called donepezil
hydrochloride can improve memory and thinking in people with
Parkinson's who have mild dementia following 24 months of
treatment. The team will also investigate whether this can improve
quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their families, and
if the medication is cost-effective.
- Where: This study has centres in all UK
regions except Yorkshire and Humber and Northern Ireland
- Who: 500 people with Parkinson's who have
developed some memory and thinking problems
- Deadline: March 2014
- Funded by: NIHR and the Michael J Fox
Foundation
Contact
Mrs Sharon Erb, Newcastle University
0191 222 5364
sharon.erb@ncl.ac.uk
Clinical and genetic features of early onset Parkinson's
The researchers are studying people with early onset Parkinson's
to understand more about the symptoms and genetics of the
condition.
- Where: UK-wide
- Who: 500 people diagnosed with Parkinson's
before the age of 45
- Deadline: Ongoing
- Funded by: Parkinson's UK
Contact
Dr Huw Morris, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
02920 743660
morrishr@cf.ac.uk
PD COMM - comparing Lee Silverman voice treatment to standard
speech and language therapy for Parkinson's
This study will compare 2 types of speech and language therapy:
Lee Silverman voice treatment and standard NHS speech and language
therapy commonly used for people with Parkinson's. At the moment,
we don't know if speech and language therapy is helpful, and if it
is, which treatment works best.
- Where: City Hospital Birmingham, Royal Devon
and Exeter Hospital, Fairfield Hospital Bury and Southern General
Hospital Glasgow
- Who: 60 people with Parkinson's who experience
speech problems but have not received speech and language therapy
in the last 2 years
- Deadline: June 2013
- Funded by: Dunnhill Medical Trust
Contact
Dr Caroline Rick, University of Birmingham
0121 415 9129
c.e.rick@bham.ac.uk
Can we personalise treatment for Parkinson's?
This project is measuring brain activity in people with
Parkinson's who have recently had deep
brain stimulation surgery.
- Where: London and Oxford
- Who: 40 people with Parkinson's who have
recently had deep brain stimulation surgery in London or
Oxford
- Deadline: August 2013
- Funded by: Parkinson's UK
Need more information?
Can we personalise
treatment for Parkinson's? - participant information sheet (PDF,
41KB)
Contact
Dr Ashwani Jha, University College London
020 3108 0075
a.jha@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Learning and consolidation in people with Parkinson's
This study will explore how the brain learns
and remembers new movements and whether these behaviours differ in
people with Parkinson’s. The team will
be looking at whether a non-invasive, safe form of brain
stimulation can improve motor learning and retention.
- Where: Oxfordshire,
Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire & Warwickshire
- Who: 20 people with
Parkinson's aged 40-70 who have no or moderate tremor in their
right hand and 20 people without Parkinson's aged 40-70
- Deadline: May 2015
- Funded by: Parkinson's
UK
Need more information?
Learning and
consolidation in people with Parkinson's - participant
information sheet (PDF, 169KB)
Contact
Muriel Panouilleres
01865 234765
muriel.panouilleres@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
East Midlands
As well as the studies listed below, please check our list of
UK-wide studies for other
opportunities to take part.
Cerebral autoregulation in people with Parkinson's
The research team isstudying whether the
control of blood flow to the brain (autoregulation) is
affected in people with Parkinson’s and if it is affected by the
Parkinson's medicines.
- Where: University of Leicester
- Who: 45 people with Parkinson's and 45 people
without Parkinson's
- Deadline: August 2014
- Funded by: The Leicestershire Grant In
Aid fund
Need more information?
Cerebral
autoregulation in people with Parkinson's - participant information
sheet (PDF, 91KB)
Contact
Dr Victoria Haunton, University of Leicester
0300 303 1573 (ext. 7452)
vjh12@le.ac.uk
Eastern England
As well as the studies listed below, please check our list of
UK-wide studies for other
opportunities to take part.
Understanding cognition and action in Parkinson's
This project will investigate mental processing in Parkinson's.
The researchers will study how people with Parkinson's choose the
right thing to do at the right time compared to people without the
condition.
- Where: Eastern England
- Who: 40 people with Parkinson's and 40 people
without any neurological condition
- Deadline: December 2014
- Funded by: The Wellcome Trust
Contact
Dr James Rowe, University of Cambridge
01223 273630
james.rowe@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
London
As well as the studies listed below, please also check our list
of UK-wide studies for
opportunities to take part.
Cardiovascular function in Parkinson's
A study is being run to see if simple tests
can detect changes in the control of blood pressure and heart rate
in Parkinson's.
- Where: St Mary's Hospital, Paddington and
National Neurology Hospital, Queen Square. You may be also able to
take part if you go to a hospital in the Imperial College and
University College London Healthcare Trusts.
- Who: People with Parkinson's or Multiple
System Atrophy (MSA) aged 40-80 who are willing to miss their
medication the morning of the study visit (which lasts
approximately 2 hours). People without Parkinson's are also
needed.
- Deadline: December 2013
- Funded by: Imperial College London
Need more information?
Developing
simple tests to measure changes in nerve cells - participant
information sheet (Word, 73.5KB)
Contact
Ekawat Vichayanrat - Study Chief Investigator
020 331 22106
ekawat.vichayanrat08@imperial.ac.uk
P-PPMI: Pre-diagnostic Parkinson's Progressive Markers
Initiative
A 4-year international study examining
biological indicators of Parkinson's (focusing particularly on a
reduced ability to smell) before the onset of motor symptoms. The
study does not involve taking new drugs.
- Where: Charing Cross hospital
- Who: People without Parkinson's,
aged 60 years or above with a reduced sense of smell
- Deadline: Ongoing
- Funded by: Michael J Fox
Foundation
Need more information?
Visit the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative
website
Contact
Bina Shah, Parkinson's Research Team, Charing Cross
Hospital
020 3311 1714
Parkinson.ResearchTeam@imperial.nhs.uk
North East
As well as the studies listed below, please also check our list
of UK-wide studies for
opportunities to take part.
You can also visit the North East DeNDRoN
website to sign up to their patient list and find out
about other research opportunities in the North East.
Interpreting tone of voice in Parkinson's
This study will investigate whether Parkinson's affects the
ability to judge another person's feelings through their tone of
voice - and whether the side of the body most affected by
Parkinson's has any effect.
- Where: Durham and Middlesbrough, North
East
- Who: 39 people with Parkinson's whose movement
is more affected on one side of the body than another. 17 people
without Parkinson's to act as a comparison group.
- Deadline: August 2013
- Funded by: Durham University
Need more information?
Interpreting
tone of voice study - participant information sheet (PDF,
30KB)
Contact
Charlotte Wilson, Durham University
07800 994698
charlottewilson87@hotmail.co.uk
Developing a device to reduce drooling in Parkinson's
This study will test a small wrist worn device that gives a
vibratory cue at regular intervals to remind the wearer to swallow
and thereby reduce the chance of drooling. Researchers are inviting
individuals to take part in this study and ensure that the new
device reflects the needs of people living with Parkinson's and
that it does the job intended.
- Where: North East England
- Who: Participants of any age, gender and
severity of the Parkinson's as long as they feel they experience
drooling problems.
- Deadline: November 2013
- Funded by: RfPB
Need more information?
A device to reduce
drooling - Patient information sheet (Word, 1.5MB)
Contact
Róisín McNaney, Newcastle University
0191 246 4637 or 07843 157367
r.mcnaney@ncl.ac.uk
North West
As well as the studies listed below, please also check our list
of UK-wide studies for
opportunities to take part.
Representing action in Parkinson's
This study is investigating how people with Parkinson's react to
different objects and movements in their environment, and how well
they can communicate.
- Where: Greater Manchester
- Who: 25 people with Parkinson's and 25 people
without Parkinson's, all aged 50-75
- Deadline: April 2014
- Funded by: The University of Manchester
Need more information?
Contact
Ellen Poliakoff, University of Manchester
0161 275 7333
Ellen.Poliakoff@manchester.ac.uk
Northern Ireland
There are currently no research studies based exclusively in
Northern Ireland. Please also check our list of UK-wide studies for opportunities to
take part in research.
Scotland
There are currently no research studies based exclusively in
Scotland. Please also check our list of UK-wide studies for opportunities to
take part in research.
South of
England
As well as the studies listed below, please also check our list
of UK-wide studies for
opportunities to take part.
Monument Discovery project: Understanding the early
pathological pathways in Parkinson's
This study, part of the £5million
Monument Discovery Award, aims to find new ways to diagnose and
monitor Parkinson's.
- Where: Amersham, Ascot, Banbury, Kettering,
Milton Keynes, Newbury, Northampton, Oxford, Reading, Stoke
Mandeville
- Who: 1,500 people diagnosed with Parkinson's
in the last 3 years, and brothers and sisters of people with
Parkinson's
- Deadline: December 2014
- Funded by: Parkinson's UK
Need more information?
Contact
The Discovery research team
01865 234892
Parkinsons.Discovery@nhs.net
Exercise programmes for Parkinson's
This study will test the effect of long-term exercise on the
symptoms, fitness, health and wellbeing of people with Parkinson's.
The study will also explore participants' views on the
sustainability of community provision of exercise over longer
periods of time.
- Where: Oxfordshire and Berkshire
- Who: 100 people with Parkinson's who expect to
maintain a stable medication regime for the course of the study and
are able to walk more than 100 metres
- Deadline: June 2013
- Funded by: NIHR Research for Patient
Benefit
Need more information?
Exercise study - participant
information sheet (Word, 72KB)
Contact
Dr Johnny Collett, Oxford Brookes University
01865 483272
jcollett@brookes.ac.uk
Examining eye movements in people with Parkinson's
In this study, the research team will explore whether eye
movement responses to different stimuli are affected in people with
Parkinson's.
- Where: Oxford - anyone willing to travel to
Oxford can take part
- Who: 400 people diagnosed with Parkinson's for
5 years or less and 200 people who do not have Parkinson's (or any
other neurodegenerative condition)
- Deadline: January 2014
- Funded by: The Wellcome Trust
Contact
Dr Chrystalina Antoniades, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
University
01865 234728
chrystalina.antoniades@clneuro.ox.ac.uk
South East
There are currently no research studies based exclusively in the
South East. Please also check our list of UK-wide studies for opportunities to
take part in research.
South West
As well as the studies listed below, please also check our list
of UK-wide studies for
opportunities to take part.
You can also visit the South
West DeNDRoN website to find out about other research
opportunities in the South West. Sign up to their patient list
as well as our research support network.
Testing computer-based thinking and memory tests for people
with neurodegenerative conditions
The research team at the University of Plymouth are comparing
computer-based tests of thinking and memory with paper-based tests.
Taking part will take around 2 hours. The session can take place at
a clinic (within the Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust) or in your home,
if you prefer.
- Where: You may be eligible to take part if you
live within an hour of Plymouth
- Who: 30 people with Parkinson's and 30 people
without Parkinson's
- Deadline: June 2013
- Funded by: University of Plymouth
Need more information?
Computer-based
thinking and memory tests - information for participants (Word,
798KB)
Contact
Sarah O'Rourke, University of Plymouth
01752 315264
sarah.orourke@students.plymouth.ac.uk
Wales
There are currently no research studies based exclusively in
Wales. Please also check our list of UK-wide studies for opportunities to
take part in research.
West Midlands
As well as the studies listed below, please also check our list
of UK-wide studies for
opportunities to take part.
Investigating the effect of a low dose sedative on brain waves
during simple motor tasks
The team at Aston University are studying the effects
of a low dose sedative, Zolpidem on the motor
symptoms of Parkinson's. This drugs suppresses certain brain waves
that have control in the way we move.
- Where: Aston University, Birmingham
- Who: People with Parkinson's who have not
yet started taking Parkinson's medication, and
people without Parkinson's aged 40 or over
- Deadline: Ongoing
- Funded by: Parkinson's UK
Need more information?
Zolpidem research project
- participant information sheet (PDF, 297KB)
Contact
Dr Emma Prokic, Aston University
e.prokic@aston.ac.uk
0121 204 5247
Yorkshire and Humber
There are currently no research studies based exclusively in
Yorkshire and Humber. Please also check our list of UK-wide studies for opportunities to
take part in research.
Find out more about clinical trials
- healthtalkonline
discusses the importance of clinical research and features personal
stories and experiences of participants.
- Clinical
trials - a patient perspective features videos and stories from
people who have participated in clinical research studies.
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How do drug trials
work? This short video explores the drug's journey from early
lab tests to final approval and looks at the obstacles it faces
along the way.
- email
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