The Movement Disorders Division at the University of Utah is currently involved in a total of fourteen clinical research studies (six of them are in Parkinson’s disease). Below is a brief synopsis of some of these studies.
Actively Recruiting Trials (by Condition)
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Syn-D/National Institute of Health
Syn-D plays an important role in helping advance early detection of Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, advancing the science for early detection.
What Will Happen? A medical professional will do an exam and take your medical history. You’ll fill out some questionnaires. A medical professional will complete three small skin samples, a smell test, and blood collection. You’ll earn $100 for each visit.
Primary Investigator: Guillaume Lamotte, MD, MSc
For questions about enrollment, please call local coordinator Kendra Fowler (801) 581-7828 or email kendra.fowler@utah.edu.
Dystonia
The Dystonia Coalition/Rare Diseases Clinical Research
The Dystonia Coalition is an international collaboration of medical researchers and patient advocacy groups with a mission to advance the pace of clinical and translational research in the dystonias to find better treatments and a cure.
Principal Investigator: Panagiotis Kassavetis, MD, PhD
For questions about enrollment, please call local coordinator Annalee Hovinga at 801-581-4543 or email her at Annalee.hovinga@hsc.utah.edu.
Next-Generation Clinical Phenotyping and Pathophysiology of Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor
The University of Utah is a participating research site on this P50 grant awarded by the NIH/NIDCD. The study creates specialized centers and cross-disciplinary research focused on understanding the clinical and pathophysiologic features of laryngeal dystonia (i.e. spasmodic dysphonia) and voice tremor.
Principal Investigator: Kristina Simonyan
Coinvestigators: Paolo Moretti (U of Utah; Movement Disorders) and J. Rolston and S. Rahinpour (U of Utah; Functional Neurosurgery)
For more information, please contact Jessica.Ku@hsc.utah.edu.
Essential Tremor
Physiologic Correlates of Vocal Tremor Affecting Those with Essential Tremor | National Institutes of Health
Essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders in the world. Approximately 30% of these individuals exhibit a vocal tremor, with the majority being female. This study will evaluate mechanisms of vocal tremor and their effects on communication, with the goal of advancing current and future treatments.
Principal Investigator: Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer
Coinvestigator: Paolo Moretti, MD and Panagiotis Kassavetis, MD, PhD
For more information, please contact Clinical Research Coordinator Derrik Legler at Derrik.Legler@hsc.utah.edu.
Huntington's Disease
Enroll-HD: A Prospective Registry Study in a Global Huntington Disease (HD) Cohort | Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative Foundation (CHDI)
A worldwide, longitudinal research study of Huntington’s disease (HD). Clinical information and biological samples are collected at annual visits to try and find new treatments for the disease. Our site is actively enrolling participants with Huntington’s disease as well as their families.
Site Principal Investigator: Paolo Moretti, MD
For more information, please contact Clinical Research Coordinator Madison Sumerlin: 801-587-9012; Madison.sumerlin@hsc.utah.edu.
Parkinson's Disease
ATLANTIS Study to Evaluate an Oral Medication in Study Participants with Advanced Parkinson's Disease/UCB BioSciences, Inc
You may be able to join the ATLANTIS Study if you fulfill the following criteria:
- Are between 35 and 85 years of age
- Have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 5 or more years ago
- Are experiencing daily motor fluctuations (at least 2 cumulative hours of “OFF” time every day when Parkinson’s disease symptoms return after the medication has worn off)
- Are currently receiving treatment with levodopa (with or without additional therapies for Parkinson’s disease)
You cannot participate in the study if the following applies to you:
- You have had brain surgery for PD (including deep brain stimulation, thalamus surgery, and experimental cell therapy or gene therapy)
- You have a diagnosis of dementia, other forms of important cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy, Type 1 diabetes, uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes, or current untreated hypertension (high blood pressure)
Primary Investigator: Paolo Moretti, MD
For more information, please contact Kendra Fowler at kendra.fowler@utah.edu.
Cardiovascular Autonomic Regulation & Exercise in Parkinson's Disease (CARE-PD)
A study to determine the effect of an acute bout of moderate aerobic exercise on post-exercise cardiovascular function in PD.
Principal Investigator: Erin Suttman
Site Principal Investigator: Erin Suttman
If interested, contact erin.suttman@utah.edu.
Effect of Levodopa on Cardiovascular Autonomic Function in Parkinson’s Disease with and without Orthostatic Hypotension: A Cross-Over Study
Levodopa is the most common medication used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Research is needed for us to better understand how Levodopa affects the blood pressure and heart rate in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
For more information, please contact Guillaume.Lamotte@hsc.utah.edu.
Hemodynamic Responses to Exercise in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease with and without Orthostatic Hypotension and on and off Levodopa
This study investigates the autonomic response to exercise in people with Parkinson's disease with and without orthostatic hypotension.
Sub-Investigator: Guillaume Lamotte, MD, MSc
For more information, please contact Guillaume.Lamotte@hsc.utah.edu.
Relationship between Pupillometry, Olfaction, Balance, and Cognition in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor
The purpose of the study is to use simple tools that could be used in a health clinic to identify people with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. This study investigates the pupillary light reflex and olfactory testing as surrogate markers of balance and cognitive function in people with Parkinson's disease and essential tremor who undergo presurgical evaluation for deep brain stimulation or focused ultrasound.
Primary Investigator: Guillaume Lamotte, MD, MSc
For more information, please contact Guillaume.Lamotte@hsc.utah.edu.
Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial (SPARX3) | National Institutes of Health
A study to learn more about the effects of aerobic exercise on people with Parkinson’s disease who have been diagnosed in the last three years and have not started taking medications for their PD symptoms.
Primary Investigator: Daniel Corcos
Coinvestigator: Paolo Moretti, MD
You can visit the SPARX3 webpage for more information about the study. To be screened for enrollment, please call (801) 587-3181 or email G.Olivier@utah.edu.
Tissue Repository for Neurodegenerative Diseases
To determine the genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases. Recruitment consists of consent, blood draw or tissue collection, and a medical history questionnaire; video recording is optional. Recruitment will take place in clinic based on clinical diagnosis. The physician evaluating the patient will place a call to our clinical coordinator so that explanation of project and consent can take place.
Primary Investigator: Stefan Pulst, MD, Dr med
Co-Investigator: Paolo Moretti, MD
TOPAZ Trial of Parkinson’s and Zoledronic Acid/Parkinson’s Foundation/Parkinson Study Group
Have you fallen in the past year? 1 in 10 Parkinson’s patients will have a fracture this year.
The TOPAZ study will test if a medicine called zoledronate can prevent fractures and decrease risk of dying in people with Parkinson’s disease or other forms of parkinsonism.
You can join if you:
- • Have Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism.
• Are 60 years or older.
This study is done from home!
- • If you are eligible for the study, a nurse will come to your home to give you a short exam.
- • You will receive a one-time dose of the study treatment (either zoledronic acid or a placebo).
- • During the study, you will be contacted every four months to check if you have had any new fractures.
- • Earn $100 upon enrollment & $50 per year during the study.
Ready to join? Visit topazstudy.org. Watch a video and enroll by entering invitation code PMORETTI.
Primary Investigator: Paolo Moretti, MD
Utah Parkinson Disease Registry (UPDR)
A state-wide registry run by the Utah Department of Health in collaboration with the Department of Neurology at University of Utah to collect information about PD that will help improve our knowledge about the causes and treatment of PD. You can sign up at www.updr.org.
Looking for current (but not actively recruiting) trials and recently completed trials? Click below.
For additional information about these studies, please contact kendra.fowler@utah.edu.
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