How to find and access a clinical trial for Parkinson’s disease: one person’s journey
Andrea Enguita 20 Apr 2026
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Andrea Enguita 20 Apr 2026
share this post
On Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we’re taking a moment to recognize the growing impact of Parkinson’s disease on individuals and families around the world. Since the 1980s, diagnoses have steadily increased, with the sharpest rise occurring over the past two decades.1 Today, an estimated 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease.2,3
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and can cause symptoms such as tremor, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance difficulties. While there is still no cure, available treatments can help people manage symptoms and support day-to-day quality of life.
For some people, there may, however, come a point when they want to explore options beyond standard of care, including participation in clinical trials. Yet understanding which trials are available – and how to access them – is often far from straightforward.
This month, we’re sharing one person’s journey as a snapshot of what it can be to explore and access a clinical trial for Parkinson’s disease. As this story shows, access is not just about finding information, it is also about having the right guidance and support at the right time.
If you’d like to learn more about Parkinson’s disease, you can also read two blogs we previously published: “Parkinson’s disease explained: From early symptoms to latest research” and “End-stage Parkinson’s disease: Symptoms, care, and support.”
People looking for Parkinson’s disease clinical trials often start by speaking to their doctor or neurologist, searching online clinical trial registries for available studies, or reaching out to patient advocacy organizations or other patient support services. This process can take time and often involves learning more about available clinical trials, understanding eligibility criteria, and considering what participation might involve. In this case study, we share how one person used myTomorrows to explore a Parkinson’s clinical trial and, after site screening by the trial team, went on to enroll.
A woman in her sixties in the United States was living with Parkinson’s disease and taking a significant dose of levodopa, a commonly used treatment for Parkinson’s disease, to manage her symptoms. Despite treatment, she continued to experience “off” periods, with symptoms returning between doses and sometimes even while taking her medication. These fluctuations made symptom control unpredictable and made everyday tasks more difficult.
Hoping to find ways to better manage her symptoms, she began exploring what other treatment options might be available to her. During that search, she came across a myTomorrows webpage discussing a clinical trial which was evaluating an investigational gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. For someone who had continued to experience symptom fluctuations despite treatment, discovering that a new option was currently being studied marked an important point in her search for possible next steps.
Learning about the clinical trial raised important questions about what participation would involve and whether it might be the right fit for her. To understand more, including what it could mean in practice, she reached out to myTomorrows to explore it further.
After deciding she wanted to learn more about this particular trial, she spoke with a Patient Navigator from myTomorrows about her situation and the trial she was considering. This gave her the opportunity to ask questions, better understand what participation might involve, and consider whether it could be the right next step for her.
Following this conversation, and based on what she shared, the Patient Navigator helped her understand that the clinical trial might be a possible fit. She then confirmed she was still interested and the myTomorrows team connected her directly to a clinical trial team near her to proceed with the next steps.
She later underwent testing on site, and she officially began her participation in the Parkinson’s clinical trial. Reaching that stage marked an important next step in her treatment journey and reflected months of exploration, coordination, and continued support.
After joining the trial, she shared with myTomorrows that she was happy to have reached this point in her journey. She also said she hoped to stay engaged and contribute in meaningful ways to the Parkinson’s community.
This story is a reminder that when people are exploring clinical trial options for Parkinson’s, they often need more than information alone. They may need support at several key moments along the way, including deciding whether to explore clinical trial options, understanding whether a clinical trial may be relevant to their situation, being referred to a trial location, and learning what participation could involve before enrollment.
At myTomorrows, we have helped hundreds of people living with Parkinson’s disease, along with their families and caregivers, navigate these steps. Through that experience, we have seen many of the same questions, uncertainties, and decision points come up again and again, from understanding what trial options may be available to making sense of eligibility criteria and complex medical information.
This journey reflects many of the common experiences people and caregivers may face when exploring Parkinson’s clinical trial options. It also highlights how the right support at the right time can help people feel more informed, more confident, and better prepared to consider their next steps.
You can look for Parkinson’s clinical trials near you by searching online clinical trial registries, speaking with your neurologist or Parkinson’s specialist, reaching out to patient advocacy organizations, or using a free patient navigation service such as myTomorrows.
When comparing options, it can help to look at where the clinical trial is taking place, whether it is still recruiting, and the main eligibility criteria. Some clinical trials are only available at certain hospitals or research centers, while others may have multiple sites.
myTomorrows can help you discover, understand, and explore clinical trial options that may be relevant for your situation. Our Patient Navigators can answer questions, share clear and practical information, and act as a consistent point of contact as you explore possible next steps.
Exploring clinical trial options usually starts with learning what clinical trials may be relevant for your condition and situation. This may include looking at what different clinical trials are investigating, where they are taking place, and what the main requirements are.
Once potential options have been identified, there is often an initial review or pre-screening, where information such as diagnosis, medical history, symptoms, and previous treatments is considered at a high level. If a clinical trial still appears to be a possible option, the next step may involve contact with the clinical trial team, which may then carry out formal screening and explain what participation could involve. If you are found eligible and decide to move forward, the process may continue with informed consent and enrollment.
Because every clinical trial is different, the exact steps can vary, and you can decide at any point whether you want to continue.
Eligibility for a Parkinson’s clinical trial depends on the specific clinical trial. Each trial has its own eligibility criteria, including inclusion criteria, which describe who may be able to take part, and exclusion criteria, which describe what may prevent participation.
These criteria often include factors such as the type or stage of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms, age, overall health, previous treatments, and other medical conditions. They are used to help protect participants and make sure the clinical trial can answer its research question as clearly as possible.
Because every clinical trial is different, being eligible for one Parkinson’s clinical trial does not mean you will be eligible for another. The final decision is made by the clinical trial team based on the trial criteria and your individual medical situation.
Taking part in a Parkinson’s clinical trial can involve regular clinic visits, check-ins with the clinical trial team, and different tests or assessments, depending on the trial. Some clinical trials study investigational medicines, while others may involve devices or surgical procedures.
Participation may include questionnaires, movement assessments, lab tests, imaging, or other monitoring over time. Some trials are randomized, which means participants are assigned by chance to different groups and may receive the investigational treatment, standard of care, or a placebo.
Before you decide whether to take part, the clinical trial team will explain what the trial involves, including possible risks, procedures, and follow-up requirements. The number of visits and length of participation can vary from one clinical trial to another.
Yes. Taking part in a clinical trial is voluntary, and you can choose to leave at any time. Before you join, the clinical trial team will explain your rights during the informed consent process, including your option to stop participating. If you decide to leave, the team may explain whether any final visits or follow-up steps are recommended for your safety. The exact steps can vary depending on the clinical trial and the treatment involved.
Before considering a clinical trial, you may want to talk with your doctor about:
If a specific clinical trial is not a fit, your doctor may also help you explore:
Because every situation is different, your doctor can help you decide whether exploring a clinical trial feels like an appropriate next step.
As with any medical research study, participating in a Parkinson’s clinical trial can involve risks.
The type and level of risk can vary depending on the clinical trial, the investigational treatment being studied, and the procedures involved, such as medicines, devices, imaging, or surgery. Before you join, the clinical trial team will explain the possible risks, side effects, and other important details as part of the informed consent process. Because clinical trials are designed to answer research questions, outcomes cannot be guaranteed. That is why many people find it helpful to discuss the possible risks and benefits with their doctor before deciding whether to take part.
Support may be available from your doctor, neurologist, or Parkinson’s specialist, as well as from patient advocacy organizations and patient support services. This support can help you better understand how clinical trials work, which options may be relevant for your situation, and what participation could involve. myTomorrows helps patients and their doctors discover, understand, and explore clinical trial options. Patient Navigators can answer questions, share clear and practical information, and act as a consistent point of contact as you explore possible next steps. myTomorrows does not provide medical advice, replace your healthcare team, run clinical trials, or decide who is eligible to enroll.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Getting started with clinical trials:
Our Patient Navigators are here to help you learn more about clinical trials and how they may be relevant to your specific situation.
If you’d like to speak with a Patient Navigator, you can book a (free) call at a time that suits you.
At myTomorrows, we have a team of Patient Navigators, who are multilingual professionals with a medical background, and can support you with information at the different stages of the clinical trial discovery and access process.
[1] Zhu J, Cui Y, Zhang J, et al. Temporal trends in the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease from 1980 to 2023: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2024;5(7):e464-e479.
[2] Parkinson’s statistics. Accessed 9th April 2026. Available at: https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics.
[3] Medical News Today, “Parkinson’s disease: Why do brain cells die?” Accessed: Apr. 9, 2026. [Online]. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321073
Medical Content Writer at myTomorrows
Dr. Andrea Enguita Marruedo holds a master’s in Genetics and Cell Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid and a PhD in Developmental Biology from the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. She began her career in medical writing after completing her doctoral studies and has covered a wide range of therapeutic areas, including neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and diabetes.
Andrea specializes in translating complex biomedical topics into clear, accessible content for patients and healthcare professionals. With a strong research background and a passion for science communication, she is committed to delivering accurate, well-referenced content that supports greater awareness and understanding of medical topics among patients, caregivers, and clinicians.
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