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Ongoing Research
The UCSF Parkinson's Disease Clinic and Research Center is committed to on-going research to improve treatment for Parkinson's disease. Our ultimate goal is to provide a definitive cure of this disease. Our research efforts are divided between two broad types.
1) Clinical trials of experimental therapy
The first type seeks to test the effect of medications or surgical procedures (either established or experimental) on patients with PD. These studies are called clinical trials and are important in establishing the safety and defining the benefit of a particular therapy. Clinical trials often involve randomization (or unbiased assignment) into a given treatment of non-treatment (placebo) group. Subjects are selected on the basis of a number of factors including disease severity and current medications. Clinical trials may last from weeks to many months and may involve frequent contact with investigators.
2) Fundamental Research
The second type of research seeks to provide a new understanding of PD. This fundamental research may help identify new means of making a diagnosis of PD or may search to identify genes or environmental exposures (for example, foods or environmental toxins) that increase the risk of developing PD. Fundamental research often involves a single visit with an investigator. It often requires some specialized testing, such as providing a blood sample. For some of these studies, unaffected family members are asked to participate.
The Center is currently active in a number of research projects that will help us further understand this neurological disorder and evaluate new treatment strategies for it. In general, there is no cost to the patient for participation in a clinical trial. If you are interested in participating in a research study, please call (415) 476-9276 #2 to receive more information and to discuss eligibility.
Clinical Trials
Early Parkinson's disease
Neuroprotective agent study:
The Parkinson's Disease and Research Center is part of an ongoing study to identify treatments which may slow the progression of PD. Since 2002, we were have participated in the “National Institute of Health Exploratory trials in PD” or “NET-PD.” A larger clinical study using the most promising agent from the initial trials began in March 2007 and will be recruiting patients who began dopaminergic treatment in the past 2 years.
Study of Antidepressants in Parkinson’s disease
Depressive symptoms are common in Parkinson’s disease and are thought to be caused by a loss of serotonin releasing cells which occurs in Parkinson’s disease. This multicenter study is designed to compare two established medications (venlafaxine [Effexor XR] and paroxitene [Paxil]) versus placebo over a 12-week period. Candidates for this trial must have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and depressive symptoms.
Safety study of gene therapy for PD
A study to test gene therapy for Parkinson's disease has begun at UCSF. Like deep brain stimulation, this pioneering study is appropriate for patients with moderate to advanced PD who continue to benefit from levodopa but experience motor fluctuations (particularly wearing-off) refractory to medical therapies. {The gene is delivered by an injection into a brain region called the putamen. When injected into brain cells, the gene product, called aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, converts levodopa to dopamine. This treatment has been effective in laboratory animals with experimentally induced PD.} Appropriate candidates should not have other serious medical conditions, such as an unstable heart condition or dementia. If you are interested in participating in this research study, please contact Rowena Mah at (415) 476-0947 to receive more information and to discuss eligibility.
Fundamental Research
The UCSF Parkinson's Disease Clinic and Research Center is participating in a number of investigations to determine the cause of PD with the hopes that this insight will allow for more definitive diagnosis and treatment.
Biologic markers of Parkinson's disease
The goal of this study is to determine whether abnormalities of blood proteins can be detected in patients with Parkinson's disease. If identified, this test could be used to help confirm a diagnosis of PD. Participation in this study requires an examination by one of the center investigators and for blood to be drawn. Further details for this study are under development.
Genetics of Parkinson's disease (PROGENI)
This study, in collaboration with a number of other investigators, seeks patients with Parkinson's disease who have a living sibling with Parkinson's disease who is also able to participate. Subjects will undergo a neurological exam and then will be asked to have blood drawn for genetic research. The patient's sibling will then be contacted by investigators for a similar evaluation.
Pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease
To understand the processesses that cause Parkinson's disease, work in the laboratory of Robert Edwards, MD is addressing two fundamental aspects of the disorder. First, Parkinson's disease specifically affects dopamine neurons, and the selective vulnerability of these cells presumably reflects the intrinsic toxicity of their normal neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine neurons must have mechanisms to protect against the toxicity of dopamine, and defects in these protective mechanisms may well give rise to Parkinson's disease. Over the last few years, the Edwards lab has identified key proteins that protect against dopamine and related toxicity. They are now using this information to develop animal models of the human disorder. In addition, Parkinson's disease appears to involve the development of protein deposits by dopamine neurons. A major component of these deposits is the protein alpha-synuclein, and mutations in alpha-synuclein can also cause rare familial forms of Parkinson's disease. Since the normal function of alpha-synuclein may impact on its ability to deposit and cause neural degeneration, the Edwards lab is also studying its function in the process of the neurotransmitter release.
If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact Jessie Roth at (415) 476-9276.
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