Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in the SPARX3 study. We are actively recruiting participants for this ongoing study. Below is more information for volunteering in SPARX3.
Approximately 29 sites will enroll participants: 24 sites that cover all geographic regions of the USA and 1 site in Canada. All sites will have a collaboration between movement disorders and exercise specialists. The sites have extensive experience conducting studies involving exercise and people with Parkinson's disease (PD).
What is SPARX3 about?
SPARX3 (NCT04284436) is a Phase 3 multi-site, randomized study of endurance treadmill exercise on changes in the signs and symptoms of PD. The goal of SPARX3 is to test whether the progression of the signs of PD is decreased in people who have not initiated medication for PD when they perform endurance treadmill exercise. 370 persons diagnosed with PD who have not yet initiated medication, age 40-80 years, will be randomly assigned to either moderate-intensity or high-intensity exercise training.
What are the research study procedures?
First, you will complete a telephone screening followed by two in-person screening visits to confirm that you meet the criteria to participate in the study. These visits consist of physical and memory/thinking assessments, a blood draw, a questionnaire to screen for depression, and a brain scan (DaTscan) that helps confirm the diagnosis of PD. If you are eligible to participate in this study, you will then complete 7 additional assessment visits over the course of the 24 months, which consist of more physical and memory/thinking assessments, questionnaires, blood draws, exercise tests, and one additional brain scan. You will be randomized (like flipping a coin) to one of two exercise groups. You will be asked to exercise at a specific rate/intensity 4 days per week for approximately 30 min.
Who qualifies to volunteer in the SPARX3 study?
We are seeking individuals with PD who are willing to take part in a regular treadmill exercise program 4x/week for 18 months and participate in study visits periodically for 24 months.
Volunteers must be:
40-80 years old
Diagnosed with PD within the last 3 years
Not yet taking medications for PD symptoms
Not planning to start medications for PD symptoms in the next 6 months
Not currently participating in a structured exercise program
What will volunteers be asked to do?
Physical and cognitive assessments
Blood draws at the start and end of the study
Imaging scans (DaTscan)
18 months of treadmill exercise
Regularly scheduled in-person study visits over 24 months
During this study, participants will be encouraged:
To refrain from enrolling in other studies or interventions that could affect your motor symptoms or aerobic fitness, but can continue to engage in their usual physical activities.
To refrain from enrolling in other studies that require a DaTscan™ SPECT imaging procedure as part of the study activities, with the exception of the PPMI2.0 study.
To refrain from taking dopaminergic medication unless medically necessary for the duration of the study
If you think that you may be eligible for participation please use the map and links below to find and contact the nearest clinical site for SPARX3.
If you need assistance with your participation in the SPARX3 study contact Elizabeth Joslin by email or call at 309-922-7254.
PARTICIPATING SITES
Canadian Sites 25. University of Alberta
Clinical Sites Contacts
Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Contact: Sarah Bruton
Phone: 678-200-0624
Principal Investigator: Christopher Hurt, PhD
California
University of California, San Francisco
Contact: Corinna Conroy
Phone: 415-502-2960
Principal Investigator: Carlie Tanner
Colorado
University of Colorado - Denver
Contact: Katherine Balfany
Phone: 303-724-9101
Principal Investigator: Cory Christiansen, PhD
Florida
University of Florida
Contact: Amanda Fessenden
Phone: 352-733-2431
Principal Investigator: Demetra Christou, PhD
Georgia
Emory University
Contact: Joe Nocera
Phone: 404-321-6111
Principal Investigator: Joe Nocera, PhD
Morehouse School of Medicine
Contact: Paula Phabian-Millbrook
Phone: 404-756-5053
Principal Investigator: Chantale Branson, MD
Illinois
Northwestern University
Contact: Garett Griffith
Phone: 708-703-2591
Principal Investigator: Cynthia Poon, PhD
Rush University Medical Center
Contact: Jacob Hawkins
Phone: 312-563-5564
Principal Investigator: Mitra Afshari, MD
Iowa
Iowa State University
Contact: Elizabeth Stegemoller
Phone: 515-294-5966
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Stegemoller, PhD
Louisiana
Louisiana State University & Louisiana State University Health Science Center
Contact: Jan Hondzinski
Phone: 225-578-9144
Principal Investigator: Jan Hondzinski, PhD
Massachusetts
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Contact: Neil Dhruva
Phone: 617-638-7747
Principal Investigator: Terry Ellis, PhD
Principal Investigator: Ludy Shih, MD
Michigan
University of Michigan
Contact: Jake Fogel
Phone: 631-356-9361
Contact: Jacob Haus, PhD
Phone: 734-647-2790
Principal Investigator:
Jacob Haus, PhD
Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Contact: Kristin Garland
Phone: 612-505-6574
Principal Investigator: Colum MacKinnon, PhD
Missouri
Washington University St. Louis
Contact: Kevin Holley
Phone: 314-286-1641
Principal Investigator: Gammon Earhart, PhD
New York
Columbia University Medical Center
Contact: Corey Landis
Phone: 212-305-1647
Principal Investigator: Ashwini Rao, EdD
Ohio
Ohio Health
Contact: Kitra Hunter
Phone: 614-566-1262
Principal Investigator: David Hinkle
University of Cincinnati
Contact: Jessica Marchbank
Phone: 513-558-4811
Principal Investigator: Alberto Espay, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Contact: MacKenzie Dunlap
Phone: 216-444-7474
Principal Investigator: Jay Alberts, PhD
University Hospitals/Kent State University
Contact: Eileen Terrell
Phone: 216-844-2328
Principal Investigator: Angela Ridgel, PhD
Oregon
Oregon Health & Science University
Contact: Ashlynn Lawson
Phone: 503-418-2601
Principal Investigator: Martina Mancini, PhD
Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Contacts:
Phone: 215-829-7725
Principal Investigator: Andres Diek Acost Madiedo, MD
University of Pittsburgh
Contact: Kathy Betts
Phone: 412-383-6736
Principal Investigator: Deborah Josbeno, PhD
Texas
Utah
University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare
Contacts:
Phone: 801-587-3181
Principal Investigator: Lee Dibble, PhD
Canada
University of Alberta
Contact: Krista Nelles
Phone: 780-248-2043
Principal Investigator: Richard Camicioli, MD
Principal Investigator: Kelvin Jones, PhD