Parkinson’s community boosts recruitment to clinical studies

Clinical trials are often the final stage of research, where it becomes clear whether a new treatment is safe and effective. The only way this vital stage of research is possible is through people taking part in the studies. 

We need people both with and without Parkinson’s to take part. Without clinical trials, it would be impossible to move towards better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s. 

A few months ago, we featured 5 studies that were struggling to find people to take part for a number of reasons. Some were still recovering from delays in recruitment due to the coronavirus pandemic or problems with staff capacity at NHS trial sites. Others were struggling to find participants that matched the specific requirements of the trial. 

People power

We reached out to you to help save these trials and you answered the call. Thanks to you stepping up to take part or sharing the opportunities with your friends, families and loved ones, all 5 of the featured trials have seen more people registering interest and getting involved.

ADEPT-PD is a trial we shared looking at treating low mood in Parkinson’s. It’s still ongoing but no longer needs new participants.

Blair McLennan who’s working on this trial, said:

"Only through clinical research can we gain insights and answers about the safety and effectiveness of the drugs used to help people with Parkinson’s. Through your enthusiasm, we had the most successful recruitment period to date!"

Professor Richard Walker is investigating a wrist-worn device (Cueband) for Parkinson’s. He said that as a result of the call out, the team have recruited many participants but still need more:

"The support from the Parkinson’s community has been wonderful. This means that we are nearer to having enough participants to complete one part of the trial, but still need to recruit more and hear people’s experience of using the band to cue for drooling, or as part of their daily lives."

Alan Cameron is a participant in the Cueband trial:

"I'm part of the wristwatch 'free living' study. I’m using it primarily to cue my medication times throughout the day. It has very quickly become part of my daily routine, as both the watch and the smartphone app are really easy to use.

"There is a lot of talk about the potential of wearable devices in healthcare. I like that I can be part of this study, which is doing something tangible and relevant to Parkinson’s."

Clinical research still needs you

But we can’t stop now. Some of the trials previously featured still need help to reach their recruitment deadlines. To make sure each study reaches its goal, we still need people to take part or help us share these opportunities with others.

Each trial focuses on different symptoms of Parkinson’s. Anxiety, falls, drooling, and hallucinations.

Balance and falls

Please note this trial has completed recruitment.  

A phase 3 clinical trial of a sticky medication patch for falls in Parkinson's (CHIEF-PD).

Daily living with Parkinson’s

A trial of a wrist-worn device assisting daily life of people with Parkinson's. 

Hallucinations

A trial looking at repurposing an existing drug to see if it can help with Parkinson's hallucinations (TOP HAT).

Anxiety

Please note this trial has completed recruitment of people with Parkinson's and is now only looking for people without Parkinson's.

A study looking to better understand anxiety in Parkinson’s (AND-PD). The study is looking for people with and without Parkinson’s. Discover more about the AND-PD study.