Clinical Trials

In an attempt to help improve understanding of the nature of clinical trials and to help to facilitate the recruitment of participants, a variety of on-line websites have been developed.  Two of the leading sites are listed below.

www.pdtrials.org – PD Trials is a collaborative initiative of the national Parkinson’s organizations dedicated to increasing education and awareness about clinical  Dealing with or based on observation and treatment of people, as opposed to basic science carried out in the laboratory or in animals. research. Central to this effort is providing information to help people with Parkinson’s learn more and make informed decisions about participating in clinical studies.

www.foxtrialfinder.org – Fox Trial Finder (FTF) is a Web-based platform that matches volunteers looking to participate in Parkinson’s disease (PD) clinical trials with the trials that need them and are best-suited to their specific traits.  The fox trial finder is operated by the Michael J. Fox Foundation in New York.

Considering participating in a clinical trial?  Before you commit, here are some steps you should take.

Talk to your doctor – As with any program that may affect your medication regimen or any related physical condition you may have, it is always best to confer with your physician or neurologist.  Also, it is advised that you bring whatever information you have on the trial to the visit, so that you have accurate information to discuss.

Benefits and Risks – While we all desire to speed toward a cure for Parkinson’s and better treatments, it is prudent to examine the benefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial.  The following link provides information from the National Institutes of Health on the subject.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/ctbenefits.html.