Clinical Research Projects
Understanding Autonomic Function in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), Parkinsonism and Controls
Purpose: To determine if safe, simple and non-invasive tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), a smell test, or a blood test could be used to identify neurological disorders before typical symptoms occur.
Biomarker Discovery in Parkinson’s Disease
Purpose: To identify biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and biological markers indicating risk for PD.
Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
Purpose: To identify biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease progression. PPMI is an observational research study and will be carried out over five years at 18 clinical sites in the United States and Europe.
Building a new approach for Parkinson's disease clinical research and personalized medicine/social networking: Development and validation of web-based assessment tools
Purpose: To develop new methods for medical research involving disease features and risk factors; using the Internet to study Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders.
Follow-up of Persons with Neurologic Diseases (FOUND)
Purpose: To develop methods for maintaining continuing contact with participants in clinical trials through use of mailed questionnaires completed by participants.
California Parkinson’s Disease Registry Pilot Project
Purpose: To conduct a pilot study for the legally mandated state-wide population based Parkinson’s disease registry.
Alaska Native Parkinsonism Registry
Purpose: To develop a prospective, statewide, population-based Alaska Native Parkinsonism Registry in the Alaska Tribal Health System.
Parkinsonism: A Case Control Study in Alaska Native People
Purpose: To learn more about what might cause parkinsonism; whether the things people eat, places they live, or places they work might affect getting parkinsonism.
Epidemiology of Dystonia in a Multi-Ethnic Population
Purpose: To gather information that may help researchers learn about the genetic and environmental factors that may cause Dystonia and other similar neurological (nervous system) disorders.
Diagnostic Error in Dystonia
Purpose: To study primary torsion dystonia (PTD) in a three million member multi-ethnic HMO, to establish a dystonia registry, and to address major deficiencies in our understanding of PTD.
Methodological Workshops for Parkinson's Disease Epidemiology
Purpose: To validate new risk factor questionnaires; having standard questionnaires may help researchers who study Parkinson's disease hope collect more consistent information and enable them to accurately compare results between different studies.
Chinese American Neurological and Geriatric Study of Health Outcomes (CHANGSHOU)
Purpose: To identify ways to promote healthy aging and to improve the functioning of older persons with brain disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy
Purpose: To learn more about the environmental and genetic (hereditary) factors that contribute to the development of MSA and the natural history of the disease.
Twins and Risk of PD: A Clinical and Imaging Study
Purpose: To examine the role of genetic (inherited) and environmental factors in the cause of Parkinson's disease.
Determinants of risk and progression in genetic vs. non-genetic Parkinson's Disease
Purpose: To examine the role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of Parkinson's disease.
PD GWAS Consortium
Purpose: To collaboratively use the resources of the PD genetics research community to identify genes contributing to PD
In collaboration with scientists at: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
Farming and Movement Evaluation (FAME) in the Agricultural Health Study
Purpose: To investigate the relationship of environmental factors related to farming, and Parkinson's disease.
Occupational Exposure to Endotoxin and Parkinsonism in Textile Workers
Purpose: An epidemiologic study of parkinsonism risk related to endotoxin exposure.
In collaboration with scientists at: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
NET PD
Purpose: To determine if creatine slows the worsening of PD over time.
Green Tea Phenols
Purpose: To identify neuroprotective drugs that can prevent the neurodegenerative process in persons with PD.
In collaboration with scientists at: Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Efficacy and Safety of Lingzhi in Patients with Early Parkinson's Disease
Purpose: To determine whether Lingzhi (Ganoderma), a widely used traditional Chinese Medicine is effective and safe in the treatment of Parkinson's disease when combined use with L-dopa.
In collaboration with scientists at: Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing, China
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