The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
IRAS ID
245875
Contact name
Marios Politis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition mainly characterized by motor impairment. Reliable and well-validated biomarkers to monitor PD progression would dramatically improve patient care and accelerate research into both PD etiology and therapeutics. During the past two decades much progress has been made in identifying and assessing PD biomarkers, but as yet no fully validated biomarker for PD is currently available. Nonetheless there is increasing evidence that assessment of blood and CSF, and advanced brain imaging will provide critical tools for PD drug development and ultimately assist in the medical management of PD patients.
Familial forms of PD may represent an ideal model to study PD. Understanding how these genes give rise to the symptoms of PD will help elucidate the mechanisms involved in the more common forms of PD. Familial PD accounts for 5-10% of the total population of PD patients, and implicated genes include LRRK2, GBA, SNCA, Parkin, PINK1, and DJ-1.
We will ask participants, with mutations in the previously mentioned genes, to undertake two types of brain scan: three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), three single photon emission tomography (SPECT) scans and two [18F] florbetaben PET Scans over the course of the study. Study participants will also donate CSF and blood samples, which will be measured for potential PD biomarkers.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0299
Date of REC Opinion
20 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion