PDtrials

PDtrials, led by PDF, was created in 2004 to increase the PD community's awareness of clinical trials and provide up-to-date information on trials enrolling people with Parkinson’s and their family members.

Why should you and your family be aware of clinical trials?

Clinical research is the only way we know if new Parkinson’s medications work. But it is estimated that less than one percent of the one million people in the US with Parkinson's disease participate in clinical research.

This is far short of the number of individuals that researchers anticipate will be needed over the next two to three years - potentially resulting in severe delays in new treatments that could offer relief to those who suffer from Parkinson's disease.

In response to this concern, PDF convened a summit of the major Parkinson's disease groups in February 2004 to discuss an awareness and education campaign devoted to Parkinson's clinical trials. Later that year, PDF launched PDtrials, a community initiative led by PDF in collaboration with the American Parkinson Disease Association, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson's Action Network, The Parkinson Alliance and WE MOVE. The campaign is advised by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (National Institutes of Health), the Parkinson Study Group, the Parkinson Pipeline Project and the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center.

The PDtrials Initiative

Central to the PDtrials initiative is www.PDtrials.org, a website in English and Spanish that provides general information on clinical trials to prepare potential participants and a list of Parkinson's trials that are currently enrolling volunteers.

The site offers free educational materials and a monthly PDtrials Email Bulletin, a monthly update of clinical trials and other information of interest that is emailed to over 5,000 individuals.

PDtrials, in addition to reaching people with PD – performs outreach to general neurologists and other physicians to encourage them to refer their patients to trials.

PDtrials also studies the problem "on the ground" in several targeted metropolitan areas - beginning with Chicago, taking advantage of PDF's strong local presence and office location. The PDtrials coalition will also be working to address the barriers to Parkinson's clinical trial participation among populations that are traditionally underrepresented, such as women and people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds.

Learn more about:

• PDtrials by visiting, www.PDtrials.org.
• Barriers to Clinical Trial Participation