Join The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s mission to discover better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, participating in research is a powerful way to contribute to these efforts. In this Research Roundup, we highlight Foundation-funded and partner studies currently seeking volunteers. Some of these clinical studies focus on treating motor symptoms and slowing disease progression, while others involve long-term participant observation to deepen our understanding of the disease.
Explore the links below to find out how you can get involved in each study, and please share this information with your networks.
Landmark Study Enrolling Anyone Aged 18 and Older: MJFF’s landmark study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), is recruiting volunteers with and without PD. The study is exploring how brain disease starts and changes in people of all backgrounds. PPMI is open to anyone over age 18 in the U.S. Learn more and join the study that’s changing everything.
Smell Loss and Parkinson’s: Smell loss can be an early sign of Parkinson’s risk. PPMI is offering free scratch-and-smell tests to anyone age 40 and up, with and without Parkinson’s. Request a free test today and help scientists learn more about brain disease and develop new treatments at mysmelltest.org/mjff.
An Oral Treatment for Early-Onset Parkinson’s: A Phase II/III clinical study is testing a new oral drug, BHV-8000. The study aims to understand if the drug can slow or stop Parkinson’s disease progression. The therapy is designed to calm overactive immune responses in the brain by lowering inflammation.
This phase II/III study, meaning researchers are testing different doses to find the one that works best, while also running a large international trial to confirm safety and effectiveness. Combining these steps helps speed up the process of learning whether this treatment could benefit people living with the disease. Participants will take the drug for one year, though the overall study is planned to conclude in 2027.
Sponsored by Biohaven, the study is enrolling people diagnosed with PD within the last two years who are between ages 40 to 85 and not currently taking any PD medications. Learn more and find a site near you.
A Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s: The exPDite-2 study is a Phase III clinical study evaluating a cell therapy called bemdaneprocel, which aims to use living cells to replace cells that are lost to Parkinson’s. This study aims to restore dopamine-producing cells in the brain to improve motor function.
As a Phase III study, exPDite-2 represents the potential final step before regulatory review, which happens if results show the therapy is safe and effective. The treatment involves a one-time surgical procedure to deliver the cells to the brain, followed by regular check-ins over the next five years to track progress.
Sponsored by BlueRock Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Bayer, the study is enrolling people diagnosed with PD within the last four to 12 years, aged 45 to 75, who are experiencing motor fluctuations and are on stable doses of levodopa. Learn more about the study and see if you qualify to join.