The Pittsburgh Institute for Neurological Disease (PIND) takes an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the study of neurodegenerative diseases and their mechanisms, including Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s Disease, Stroke, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Through basic, translational and clinical research, the PIND seeks to ultimately apply basic laboratory findings in the clinic, transforming the latest scientific findings into new treatments and applications for those affected by neurodegenerative diseases.
The University of Pittsburgh is also home to an American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research. The Center is directed by Dr. Tim Greenamyre, MD, PhD, along with a comprehensive team of experts.
APDA Centers for Advanced Research must meet the highest academic standards and be distinguished leaders in the field of Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. There are nine such Centers across the country.
The funding of this Center supports a large research program, which includes: Neurologists, Neuroscientists, Postdoctoral Fellows, Graduate and Undergraduate Students and Movement Disorders Fellows, as well as Physician Assistants, Nurse and Clinical Research Coordinators. Projects range from basic laboratory bench studies to translational testing of new therapeutic strategies to clinical trials of new treatments for people with PD. The University of Pittsburgh Center has experience with both experimental and clinical gene therapy studies.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL RESEARCH
REGISTRIES:
- Movement Disorder Registry - PIND
- Wilson’s Disease Registry – Department of Neurology and Hepatology
PARKINSON’S DISEASE (PD) STUDIES:
Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
Sponsor: Michael J Fox Foundation
Site PI: Lana Chahine, MD
Coordinator: Sherri Mosovsky, MPH, CPH
Objective: To identify biomarkers that can track the progression of Parkinson's disease to help develop and test new therapies.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
SPARX3
Sponsor: NIH/NINDS
Site PI: Alexandra B. Gil, PT, PhD
Coordinator: Deena Ratner, MPPM
Description: Phase 3, multi-site, randomized, evaluator-masked, study of endurance treadmill exercise on changes in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III score at 12 months among persons with early-stage Parkinson’s disease.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
PD Gene Therapy Trial
Sponsor: Ask Bio
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Sherri Mosovsky, MPH, CPH
Description: Phase 2, Open-Label, Multi-Stage Study to Optimize the Intraputaminal Administration of AB-1005 (AAV2-GDNF) Using a Prescriptive Infusion Algorithm (PIA).
Candidates: PD diagnosis of over 10 years
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
Antioxidant, gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC) in PD
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
Site PI: Pravat Mandal, PhD and Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Nazia Abdul Rasheed Pillar, clinic55@pitt.edu
Goal: To investigate the effect of the antioxidant GGC, a precursor to glutathione, on brain health, motor function, oxidative stress, and cognitive function.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE (HD) STUDIES:
ENROLL-HD
Sponsor: CHDI
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Patricia Conlon, BSOT
Description: A prospective Registry Study in a Global HD Cohort
Candidates: Gene positive and Gene Unknown patients
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
GENERATION-HD2
Sponsor: Roche
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Patricia Conlon, BSOT
Description: A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Finding, Study to Evaluate the Safety, Biomarkers, and Efficacy of Tominersen in Individuals with Prodromal and Early Manifest Huntington’s Disease.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
SPK-1001
Sponsor: Roche
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Patricia Conlon, BSOT
Description: A Phase I/II, Randomized, Sequential, Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of a One-Time Bilateral, Intraparenchymal Infusion of SPK-1001 into the Caudate and Putamen in Participants with Huntington’s Disease.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY (MSA) STUDIES:
TOPAS
Sponsor: TEVA
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO and Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Deena Ratner, MPPM
Description: A Multi-Centered, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Phase 2 Study of TEV-56286 (emrusolmin) for the Treatment of Patients with Multiple System Atrophy.
Candidates: clinical probable and clinical possible MSA-C and MSA-P
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
MASCOT
Sponsor: Lundbeck
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO and Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Deena Ratner, MPPM
Description: Phase 3, Interventional, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Optional Open-Label Extension Trial of Lu AF82422 (amlenetug) in Participants with Multiple System Atrophy.
Candidates: clinical probable and clinical possible MSA-C and MSA-P
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
LEWY BODY DISEASE
BEHOLD (BioEnergetic Hallmarks of Lewy Body Dementia)
Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (National Institutes of Health)
PI: Sarah Berman, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Jan Ciccozzi
Description: Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) study of the involvement of mitochondrial and bioenergetic dysfunction in LBD.
Candidates: Lewy Body Dementia, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) Consortium
Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (National Institutes of Health)
Site PI: Sarah Berman, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Cary Zik
Description: Longitudinal study of DLB and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Candidates: Parkinson Disease Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Mild Cognitive Impairment with Lewy Bodies
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
