Clinical Studies and Trials

The Harvard Biomarkers Study Biobank is one of the world’s largest biobanks for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and related neurodegenerative diseases. More than 200,000 biosamples from 3,000 deeply characterized patients allow the discovery of new targets for drugs, new genes, and new diagnostics. Unique iPSC capability enables drug screening using patient cells with linked biomarkers, genomes, and clinical phenotypes.

The Harvard Biomarkers Study will resume enrollments in January 2024. If interested in participating, please reach out to Graziella Greco (ggreco@bwh.harvard.edu) or Daniel El Kodsi, PhD (delkodsi@bwh.harvard.edu).

Additional inquiries can be directed to Vikram Khurana MD, PhD - chief of the Movement Disorders Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital (vkhurana@bwh.harvard.edu).

This study aims to better understand genetic contributors to Parkinson disease, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), and other neurodegenerative movement disorders, and to pinpoint particular genes that might be driving the disease in specific patients we follow.

Study Contact

• Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@bwh.harvard.edu

Recently, an important role for gut microbes has been demonstrated in neurologic diseases. In this study, we investigate this relationship in our patients with Parkinson disease, MSA and other movement disorders.

Study Contacts

• Parkinson’s Disease and MSA: Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@bwh.harvard.edu
• Spinocerebellar Ataxias and Related Disorders: Olivia Laun - olaun@bwh.harvard.edu

This study aims to build stem-cell models from patients we follow in the movement disorders clinic at BWH and MGH. In this way, we can model the disease processes in the brain in a patient-specific model we can study in the laboratory. We will use these models to build personalized treatment strategies for our patients. Through this study, drug discovery platforms for Parkinson disease and related disorders have already been established. Stem-cell transplantation studies are in planning stages for Parkinson disease.

Study Contact

• Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@bwh.harvard.edu

This double blinded trial will test focused ultrasound as an alternative for deep brain stimulation. This technique uses intersecting ultrasonic beams to create frictional energy and heat. This in turn creates a small lesion in a part of the brain that is thought to benefit symptoms in Parkinson’s.

Study Contact

• Abigail Zhang / Grace Park - 617-732-6826

This is a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of study drug ONO-2808 in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). This study drug has the potential to provide both symptomatic improvement and modify disease progression in patients with MSA. The study lasts 28 weeks and will involve a combination of on-site and home visits. More information can be found here.

Study Contact

• Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@mgh.harvard.edu

This study aims to create a clinical-trial ready cohort for patients with neurodegenerative movement disorders including Parkinson disease, Multiple System Atrophy and Cerebellar ataxia. We track participants in a clinical setting with longitudinal neuroimaging, quantitative video-oculography, biometric assessments and clinical measurements.

Study Contacts

• Multiple Systems Atrophy: Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@bwh.harvard.edu
• Spinocerebellar ataxias and related disorders: Olivia Laun - olaun@bwh.harvard.edu
• Parkinson’s Disease: Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@mgh.harvard.edu

This study uses novel PET radiotracers to identify alpha-synuclein in PET brain scans among patients with Multiple System Atrophy. We also correlate PET imaging with seeding amplification assays (SAA) derived from skin samples as well as longitudinal clinical scales.

Study Contact

• Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@mgh.harvard.edu

This study aims to analyze the effects of the monoclonal antibody Foralumab, on brain inflammation as measured through longitudinal PET imaging. We will also use clinical evaluations and MRI data to understand potential disease-modifying effects of this medication.

Study Contact

• Diego Rodriguez, MD - drodriguez29@mgh.harvard.edu

This study collects the long-term safety and effectiveness data of performing focused ultrasound ablation (FUSA) thalamotomy for tremor dominant Parkinson's Disease using the Exablate Neuro system. For more information, click here.

Study Contact

• Anna Jiaying Schwab Ball - ABALL@BWH.HARVARD.EDU

In this study, a gene therapy that boosts dopamine production in the brain is being tested for its ability to improve symptoms and slow disease progression in Parkinson’s disease. A Randomized, Placebo Surgery Controlled, Double-blinded, Multi-center, Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluation the Efficacy and Safety of VY-AADC02 in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) with Motor Fluctuations.

Study Contact

• Jordan Paulson, MD - jdpaulson@bwh.harvard.edu

In this study, a clinical trial drug Verdiperstat is being tested for its ability to slow down disease inflammation as measured by a PET scan) in multiple system atrophy.

Study Contact

• Vik Khurana, MD, PhD - vkhurana@bwh.harvard.edu