The Largest Parkinson’s Disease Study Ever Attempted is Being Made Possible Only with Mobile Research Nurses

The home-based Trial of Parkinson’s and Zoledronic acid (TOPAZ) is investigating whether a drug used to treat osteoporosis will reduce bone fractures in Parkinson’s disease patients.

Due to the limited mobility of many of the participants and the need to enroll so many patients, the only way this trial is possible is using decentralized clinical trial methods including mobile research nurses, which are provided by PCM Trials.

This case study, based on a presentation at Outsourcing in Clinical Trials (OCT) East Coast by Steven R. Cummings, MD, Executive Director, San Francisco Coordinating Center, illustrates the many advantages of home-based clinical trials including:

• Increased convenience for patients, including those with limited mobility
• Larger number of participants than possible with a clinic-based trial
• Potential for increased diversity in clinical trial participation
• Reduced costs