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.

SPARX3 clinical sites badges

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:

What will volunteers be asked to do?

During this study, participants will be encouraged:

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

SPARX3 participating sites visual map

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: 352-733-2421

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: Michael Stevenson

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: Martha Hessler

Phone: 314-286-1478


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:

Marcela Pavón

Whitney Hartstone

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

Utah

University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare

Contacts: 

Genevieve Olivier

Erin Suttman

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