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Procedure

Peripheral nerve tissue (PNT) deployment to the Substantia Nigra for Parkinson's Disease (STAR Trial)

Phase 1
Waitlist Available
Led By Craig G van Horne, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by Craig van Horne, MD, PhD
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
* Undergoing DBS
* Diagnosis of clinically established or clinically probably PD as defined by MDS criteria
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up at 6, 12, and 24 months compared to baseline
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

The investigators propose a Phase I single surgical-center, double-blinded randomized parallel clinical trial involving bilateral autologous peripheral nerve tissue (PNT) delivery into the NBM or the alternate target also affecting cognition in this population, the substantia nigra (SN), to address "repair cell" support of these areas. Twenty-four participants with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD) who have selected, qualified and agreed to receive as standard of care deep brain stimulation (DBS) will be enrolled and randomly allocated to receive bilateral PNT deployment to either the NBM or SN at the time of DBS surgery. Participants will be allocated equally among both assignments over the course of three years (8 Year 1, 10 Year 2, 6 Year 3). Participants will be evaluated for neurocognitive, motoric function, activities of daily living, and quality of life at enrollment before surgery, two-weeks after surgery, and 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for people with Parkinson's Disease who are already planning to get deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. They should be diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's and willing to have additional experimental treatment involving their own nerve tissue implanted in the brain.
What is being tested?
The study tests implanting a patient's own peripheral nerve tissue into two different brain areas during DBS surgery. It aims to see if this can help non-motor or motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the tissue in either the NBM or SN area.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this is an early-stage trial, specific side effects aren't listed but may include typical surgical risks like infection, bleeding, and reactions related to DBS adjustments post-surgery.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~at 6, 12, 24 months compared to baseline
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and at 6, 12, 24 months compared to baseline for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Number of participants completing 12 month study visit
Study-related adverse events as assessed by MedDRA v27
Study-related serious adverse events as assessed by MedDRA v.27
+1 more
Secondary study objectives
Change in Neuropsychological diagnosis
Change in Neuropsychological domains with impairment
Mean change in Dementia Rating Scale (DSRS)
+11 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Active Control
Group I: Peripheral nerve tissue (PNT) deployment to the Substantia NigraActive Control1 Intervention
Group II: Peripheral nerve tissue (PNT) deployment to the nucleus basalis of MeynertActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Craig van Horne, MD, PhDLead Sponsor
4 Previous Clinical Trials
95 Total Patients Enrolled
National Institute on Aging (NIA)NIH
1,786 Previous Clinical Trials
28,184,736 Total Patients Enrolled
Craig G van Horne, MD, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Kentucky
~16 spots leftby Oct 2026