Welcome to the Parkinson's Disease Studies Page

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

MyPaTH Story Booth 2.0

Interested in sharing your story about health, illness, or research? Patients and caregivers are needed to participate in a research study to help learn more about topics that are important to you and that may improve health and health care. Participation involves one 45-minute session that takes place over the phone. Eligible participants must be able to read and understand English.

ACL Tear

DURATION: 45 minutes

VISITS: 1 visit or phone call

LOCATION: By phone

COMPENSATION: Up to $20

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

MyPaTH Story Booth – COVID-19 Stories

Participants are invited to share how they are maintaining their health during the coronavirus pandemic, or to share what it is like being ill with COVID-19 and/or caring for a loved one who is ill with COVID-19. Participation in this research study involves one 45-minute session that takes place over the phone. Eligible participants must be able to read and understand English.

DURATION: About 45 minutes

VISITS: No in-person visits

LOCATION: By phone

COMPENSATION: Up to $20

REGISTRY

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Movement Disorders Research Registry

Do you have a movement disorder? If so, you may be able to participate in the Movement Disorders Registry. This registry is a list of individuals who are interested in being contacted about future research studies.

VISITS: None Required

LOCATION: By email or phone

COMPENSATION: NONE

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

TOPAZ: Trial Of Parkinson’s And Zoledronic Acid

Are you age 60 or older and are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or neurodegenerative parkinsonism? You may be able to participate in a study to learn if treatments for osteoporosis can help lower fracture risk in people with Parkinson’s disease or neurodegenerative parkinsonism. This study can be completed from your home. Compensation is provided.

Parkinson's Disease

AGE: 60 and up

DURATION: Up to 5 years

VISITS: 1

LOCATION: At home/online

COMPENSATION: $100 for completing the treatment visit & $50 per yearly check-in

Brain Connections for Arm Movement after Stroke

Are you over 21 and have you had a stroke? You may be able to participate in a research study that hopes to learn how different brain areas control movement before and after stroke and when these brain areas are most sensitive to stimulation.

DURATION: 4 months

LOCATION: Oakland

COMPENSATION: $20

Brain Development Research Study – Ages 18-26

Are you a healthy 18-26 year old? You may be able to participate in a study to understand how our brain changes as we develop into adults. This study involves completing questionnaires, playing computer games, and undergoing brain and EEG scans. Compensation is provided.

Alzheimer's Disease

Balance Disorders

Brain and Neurological Disorders

Concussion

And 6 more areas

AGE: 18-26

DURATION: 36 months

VISITS: 3

LOCATION: Loeffler Building & UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - Oakland

COMPENSATION: Up to $275

Spinal Cord Stimulation for the treatment of motor deficits in people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Are you affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy? You may be able to participate in a research study using spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an approved clinical therapy for pain syndromes that do not respond to drugs. Unexpectedly, SCS has shown the ability to promote the recovery of leg motor function in people with complete motor paralysis in consequence of spinal cord injury years after injury.

DURATION: 9 months

VISITS: 35 visits

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian

COMPENSATION: $1750

All of Us Pennsylvania Research Program

You may be able to change the future of medicine. The All of Us PA Research Program is enrolling adults 18 years of age or older. This may be your chance to improve how your children and your children’s children receive medical care.

VISITS: one in person visit

LOCATION: Convenient locations throughout Pennsylvania

COMPENSATION: $25.00 gift card

The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)

Were you diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the last two years and are not currently taking standard PD medications? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand how Parkinson’s disease progresses over time. Study participation involves having physical exams, undergoing brain scans, and providing biological samples. Compensation is provided.

Chromosomal Disorders

Featured Research

Parkinson's Disease

AGE: 30 and up

DURATION: At least 5 years

LOCATION: Kaufmann Building – Oakland & Online

COMPENSATION: $100 - Screening visit; $200 - Baseline visit; $200 per annual visit

SPARX3: Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial

Are you 40-80 years old and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) within the past 3 years? You may be able to participate in a study looking at how exercise affects the progression of PD symptoms. Eligible participants are not taking medication for PD symptoms. Study participation involves engaging in exercise 4 times/week for 18 months. Compensation is provided for evaluation visits.

Parkinson's Disease

AGE: 40-80

DURATION: 24 months

VISITS: Multiple

LOCATION: Kaufmann Building, UPMC Montefiore & Presbyterian Hospitals & Physical Therapy – Clinical and Translational Research Center (PT-CTRC)

COMPENSATION: $300

Dementia with Lewy Bodies Consortium (DLBC)

Do you have diagnosed or suspected dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), mild cognitive impairment that may progress to DLB, or Parkinson’s disease dementia? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about DLB and find better ways to identify and treat the disease in the future. Compensation is provided.

Other Brain and Nervous System

Parkinson's Disease

AGE: 40 - 90

DURATION: About 5 years

VISITS: 8 visits

LOCATION: UPMC Montefiore Hospital, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, & Kaufmann Medical Building

COMPENSATION: Up to $1,350 + parking reimbursement

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS:

Brain and Neurological Disorders