Parkinson’s disease organizations unite to raise awareness of the need to participate in clinical trials

Clinical trials are the key to getting new medicines out to the people who need them. Sixteen international organizations focused on Parkinson’s disease have joined together as the Clinical Trial Recruitment Community Partners to urge people with Parkinson’s their caregivers and others to participate in clinical trials. By creating awareness of the need for trial participants, educating them on their value to research and providing interested parties with the steps to participant in the research, this international partnership hopes fill the Parkinson’s researchers need for clinical trial participants.

The Clinical Trial Recruitment Community Partners was formed in 2012 by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Although 60 percent of people indicate they are willing to participate in clinical trials, only 10 percent do. Without these trials, new medicines would not be available to the people who need them. Clinical Trial Recruitment Community Partners is there to encourage those willing to participate and provide the tools to bridge the gap from willingness to participation.

Steve DeWitte, who has Parkinson’s, has participated in a number of trials, said in a release, “I once thought that while clinical trials were important, ‘someone else’ would be there to participate. However, that ‘someone else’ is me and every Parkinson’s patient, family member and friend.

More information is available at https://foxtrialfinder.michaeljfox.org/.

The Clinical Trial Recruitment Community Partners

• The Bachman-Strauss DYstonia and Parkinson Foundation
• The Cure Parkinson’s Trust
• Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
• Move 4 Parkinson’s
• The New England Parkinson’s Ride
• Outdoor Mindset
• Parkinson’s Action Network
• The Parkinson Alliance
• Parkinson Association of Alabama, Inc.
• Parkinson Association of the Rockies
• Parkinson’s Movment
• Parkinson Pipeline Project
• Parkinson’s UK
• Parkinson’s Unity Walk
• Shake It Up Australia Foundation
• Team Parkinson
• We Move
• Wilkins Parkinson’s Foundation

On April 27, 2013, the 19^th Annual Unity Walk will be held in Central Park to create awareness. Clinical Trial Recruitment Community Partners will have a booth staffed by people with PD who have been clinical trial participants. They’ll be sharing their experiences and the importance of signing up for trials.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.