We often cite how much Parkinson’s research needs attention from funders, innovative ideas and research volunteers, but these concepts sometimes feel intangible. Today, there is a specific opportunity for people who do not have Parkinson’s disease (PD) to contribute to research by serving as control volunteers.

The Fox Investigation for New Discovery of Biomarkers (BioFIND) — sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation with support from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — is an observational study collecting clinical data and biospecimens from people with PD and from healthy control volunteers. Participants visit their local study site twice for study visits. Data and samples collected in BioFIND are then made anonymous (de-identified) and available to qualified researchers as a resource to test hypotheses and move the needle forward toward biomarker discovery and facilitated drug development.

BioFIND has received a request from a researcher for 30 PD and 30 healthy control samples for a project that the study’s scientific review committee is enthusiastic about. However — here’s where the challenge lies — BioFIND currently does not have enough samples from control volunteers to fulfill this request. The study needs 12 more control volunteers in the next month to prevent any delay in research.

BioFIND is recruiting in the following cities:

• Boston, MA (Boston University)
• Chicago, IL (Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago)
• Minneapolis, MN (University of Minnesota Medical Center)
• New York, NY (Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Medical College of Cornell University)
• Portland, OR (Oregon Health and Science University)

In addition to control volunteers, the study seeks people with Parkinson’s who have experienced symptoms for five years or more. Learn more about BioFIND on Fox Trial Finder.