Edmond J Safra Accelerating Clinical Trials in Parkinson’s (EJS ACT-PD)

The trial aims to find one or more treatments for Parkinson’s which can slow down or stop symptoms from getting worse.

Who

1,600 people with Parkinson’s, who:

• were diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 30 or over

• have been taking dopamine medication to treat Parkinson’s for at least the past 2 months before starting the trial

• can commit to taking trial treatment once a day for up to 3 years

You won’t be able to take part if you have:

• certain Parkinson’s gene mutations (PRKN, PINK1, DJ1)

• significantly low blood pressure (checked by the research team)

• had advanced Parkinson’s treatments (e.g. DBS)

• a diagnosis of dementia

• or you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant while part of the trial

What

First, register your interest by filling in a form and choosing your preferred trial site. You'll be notified on-screen immediately after submitting if you may not be eligible.

When your chosen site is recruiting, the local research team will call you for a pre-screening check. If the trial seems like a good fit, you’ll be invited for a 4-hour, in-person screening visit. This includes health checks like a heart scan (ECG) and blood tests.

If you join, you'll be randomly assigned to receive either the trial treatments (telmisartan or terazosin) or a dummy pill. The medication will be posted to your home. You should continue taking your regular Parkinson’s medication as normal. You will take one capsule daily for up to three years.

The trial includes 10 appointments and 3 phone calls.

• Your first appointment is in person and will last about 2 hours

• The other 9 appointments can be remote and last between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

You’ll be given a blood pressure monitor to use at home, and your travel costs for in person visits will be reimbursed.

You may be invited to join some optional research studies. This is completely your choice and won’t affect your place on the main trial. These could include:

• Wearing a sensor to track movement or providing a sample for genetic research.

• A study for your partner or main supporter to share their experiences.

• Providing extra samples, like blood or spinal fluid (at selected sites only).

Please read parts 1, 2 and 3 of the participant information sheets on the EJS ACT-PD website before deciding whether you would like to take part.

Interested in taking part?

Complete the registration of interest form.

The EJS ACT-PD trial will take place at 40 sites across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, listed below. The researchers hope to have all sites open and ready to recruit participants by mid-2026.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to read our FAQ first. You will also have an opportunity to speak with your local research team after your pre-screening phone call.

Largest ever Parkinson’s research trial

We’re proud to be supporting and co-funding this revolutionary research trial.

Find out more about why the EJS ACT-PD trial represents an exciting step forward for Parkinson's research.

Learn more

Deadline

28 September 2029

Funded by

The Edmond J Safra Accelerating Clinical Trials in Parkinson’s Disease (EJS ACT-PD) trial is funded by a Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) partnership, Cure Parkinson’s, The Michael J Fox Foundation, Parkinson’s UK, The John Black Charitable Foundation, The Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Van Andel Institute.

Research

Treatments or therapies

Locations

Glasgow

Location

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 4TF
United Kingdom