Condition

Dystonia clinical trials and research

• 31Clinical trials
• 54NIH research projects
• 19Countries

Newest Dystonia clinical trials

All recruiting trials (31)

• Intraoperative Microelectrode Recordings with MAVEN vs Standard Equipment

  This study tests whether MAVEN can match the recording data collected during DBS surgery for movement disorders using standard equipment.

  Recruiting Mayo Clinic · Rochester, Minnesota · NCT07868614

• Low-intensity focused ultrasound for movement and seizure disorders

  This trial will try low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS) to see if it can safely change brain activity in people with movement disorders or epilepsy.

  Recruiting University Health Network, Toronto · Toronto, Ontario · NCT07417280

• Measuring brain network activity to predict and improve outcomes in children with dystonia

  This project will test whether noninvasive brain and muscle recordings, and comparing DBS on versus off, can predict and help improve motor outcomes for children with dystonia.

  Recruiting Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · Cincinnati, Ohio · NCT07325175

• Wearable sensors to predict DBS results for people with dystonia

  This study will test whether wearable sensors that record walking patterns before surgery can predict how well deep brain stimulation will work for people with dystonia.

  Recruiting Ruijin Hospital · Shanghai · NCT07323602

• Using GPi brain signals to guide DBS programming for primary dystonia

  This study will test whether recording local field potentials from the globus pallidus interna with the Medtronic Percept device can help guide DBS programming and improve symptoms in adults with primary dystonia.

  Recruiting Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust · Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear · NCT07309133

• VIM0423 for adults with isolated dystonia affecting multiple body regions

  This trial will test a once-daily oral medicine called VIM0423 to see if it reduces dystonia symptoms and improves daily function in adults with isolated dystonia that affects two or more body regions.

  Recruiting at 37 sites Phase 2 Vima Therapeutics · Birmingham, Alabama and 44 other locations · NCT07304089

• Long-term brain-signal monitoring after GPi DBS for dystonia

  This project will try to find brain-signal patterns recorded from a sensing-enabled DBS device in people with dystonia to help personalize and speed up stimulation care over the first postoperative year.

  Recruiting at 3 sites Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Hanover, Lower Saxony and 2 other locations · NCT07244549

• Deep cerebellar (dentate nucleus) stimulation for post-stroke spasticity and movement problems

  This trial will try deep brain stimulation near the dentate nucleus to reduce limb spasticity and improve movement in people 9–36 months after a single stroke.

  Recruiting Jan Biziel University Hospital No 2 in Bydgoszcz · Bydgoszcz · NCT07190092

• Long-read genome sequencing to help diagnose dystonia

  Researchers test long-read genome sequencing to see if it can provide a genetic diagnosis for people with dystonia and related movement disorders when standard tests have not.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · Montpellier and 3 other locations · NCT06999096

• Investigating brain network dynamics in dystonia patients with deep brain stimulation

  This study looks at how deep brain stimulation affects brain activity in people with dystonia to see if it helps improve their symptoms.

  Recruiting Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta · Milan · NCT06716983

• Registry for pediatric deep brain stimulation outcomes

  This study is creating a database to collect information on how deep brain stimulation helps children with movement disorders like dystonia and Tourette syndrome, to see how safe and effective the treatment is.

  Recruiting Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT06585618

• Registry for patients with thyroid hormone resistance

  This study is collecting information from patients with thyroid hormone resistance to see how their specific gene mutations affect their health and improve diagnosis and treatment.

  Recruiting Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Berlin · NCT06566066

• Understanding how trihexyphenidyl works in children with dystonic cerebral palsy

  This study is testing how well the medication trihexyphenidyl works for children with dystonic cerebral palsy and if their genes affect how the drug works.

  Recruiting Phase 1 Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · Kansas City, Missouri · NCT06554288

• Outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for movement disorders

  This study looks at how well a specific treatment called radiofrequency ablation works for people with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

  Recruiting at 4 sites Boston Scientific Corporation · Cologne and 3 other locations · NCT06553625

• Using a non-invasive device to help manage symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease

  This study is testing a new device that uses gentle vibrations to see if it can help people with Parkinson's disease feel better and manage their symptoms.

  Recruiting Queen Mary University of London · London · NCT06174948

• Deep brain stimulation therapy for sleep issues in Parkinson's disease

  This study is testing if deep brain stimulation can help people with Parkinson's disease improve their sleep problems.

  Recruiting University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, Minnesota · NCT05962489

• Observational study on functional neurological disorders in movement disorder patients

  This study looks at how common functional neurological disorders are in patients with movement disorders to see how they differ from those with non-functional movement issues.

  Recruiting Medical University of Graz · Graz, Styria · NCT05943652

• Investigating how exercise affects brain and movement in dystonia patients

  This study is testing if a structured exercise program can improve movement and brain function in people with focal cervical dystonia who haven't had much success with other treatments.

  Recruiting University of Florida · Gainesville, Florida · NCT05663840

• Validation of a deep learning platform for diagnosing isolated dystonia

  This study is testing a new deep learning tool to see if it can help doctors diagnose isolated dystonia more accurately and quickly.

  Recruiting Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT05317390

• Deep Brain Stimulation for Voice Disorders in Dystonia and Tremor

  This study is testing if deep brain stimulation can improve voice problems in people with laryngeal dystonia and essential tremor.

  Recruiting Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT05150093

• Image-guided programming for deep brain stimulation in dystonia

  This study is testing a new way to program deep brain stimulation for people with dystonia to see if it can improve their treatment results.

  Recruiting Wuerzburg University Hospital · Würzburg, Bavaria · NCT05097001

• Understanding brain activity related to speech in neurological diseases

  This study is trying to see how brain activity affects speaking in people with neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and dystonia who are about to have deep brain stimulation surgery.

  Recruiting Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT04286308

• Long-term evaluation of Abbott deep brain stimulation systems for movement disorders

  This study is testing how safe and effective Abbott deep brain stimulation systems are for people with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease over a five-year period.

  Recruiting at 24 sites Abbott Medical Devices · Tucson, Arizona and 47 other locations · NCT04071847

• Collecting clinical outcomes for deep brain stimulation in movement disorders

  This study is tracking the experiences of people with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease who are getting deep brain stimulation to see how well it works and what risks it might have over time.

  Recruiting Washington University School of Medicine · St Louis, Missouri · NCT03992625

• Evaluating outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation for movement disorders

  This study looks at how well Deep Brain Stimulation works for people with Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor, and Dystonia by reviewing past patient records.

  Recruiting at 16 sites Boston Scientific Corporation · Phoenix, Arizona and 19 other locations · NCT03664609

• Investigating the relationship between genetic mutations and brain changes in dystonia

  This study is trying to see how genetic changes linked to dystonia affect the brain in people with the condition compared to healthy individuals.

  Recruiting University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, Texas · NCT03428009

• Investigating the relationship between genetic mutations and brain changes in dystonia

  This study is trying to see how genetic changes linked to dystonia affect the brain in people with the condition compared to healthy individuals.

  Recruiting University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, Texas · NCT03428009

• Investigating the relationship between genetic mutations and brain changes in dystonia

  This study is trying to see how genetic changes linked to dystonia affect the brain in people with the condition compared to healthy individuals.

  Recruiting University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, Texas · NCT03428009

• Observing outcomes of Vercise DBS for treating dystonia

  This study looks at how well the Vercise Deep Brain Stimulation system helps people with dystonia feel better and improve their quality of life.

  Recruiting at 16 sites Boston Scientific Corporation · Ghent and 35 other locations · NCT02686125

• Deep brain stimulation for movement disorders like Parkinson's disease

  This study tests whether deep brain stimulation surgery can help people with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease feel better when other treatments haven't worked.

  Recruiting National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · Bethesda, Maryland · NCT01581580

• Development of a brain atlas for improved treatment of neurological conditions

  This study is trying to create a detailed brain map to help doctors find the best treatment spots for patients with conditions like Parkinson's, OCD, and epilepsy.

  Recruiting Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee · NCT00575081

NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 54)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Role of THAP1 in brain cell support cells shaping brain development

  Aims to understand how the THAP1 protein in oligodendrocyte lineage cells helps shape the brain’s environment and myelination during development, which may relate to a movement disorder called DYT6 dystonia.

  NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11596702

• Leukocyte RNA biomarkers to help diagnose and monitor dystonia

  A small study will look for RNA signatures in blood that could help diagnose and track dystonia in people who have the condition.

  NIH research University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · Memphis, United States · NIH-11440474

• How a dystonia-linked protein affects brain support cells and myelin

  This project looks at how the THAP1 protein linked to DYT6 dystonia changes the behavior of brain support cells and the surrounding matrix, which could affect myelination in adults with DYT-THAP1.

  NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11418173

• Intrathecal baclofen for children with dystonia due to brain injury

  A physician-led study at Baylor College of Medicine will help determine how ITB therapy affects daily life, comfort, and mobility for children with dystonia and related condition after brain injury.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11401768

• DYT1 Dystonia: Mouse Models to Understand TorsinA and Brain Circuits

  A researcher-led project uses mouse models to explore how a genetic change in DYT1 dystonia affects brain circuits and movement.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11399135

• Dystonia-specific brain signaling pattern in cerebellum

  Aims to identify a characteristic pattern of nerve cell activity in the cerebellum that is linked to dystonia, with studies in mice and potential implications for people with the condition.

  NIH research Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · Blacksburg, United States · NIH-11398836

• Progressive resistance exercise for cervical dystonia and brain changes

  A study will test whether adding progressive resistance exercise to standard care helps people with focal cervical dystonia and explores how the brain adapts.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11397516

• Next-generation clinical profiling for laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor

  A multi-site program is exploring what makes laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor different from other conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis and targeted treatments for people affected by these voice disorders.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11389177

• Cortical dystonia in kids born early

  Researchers are studying why premature birth leads to dystonia in cerebral palsy and looking for new ways to help children and adults who have this condition.

  NIH research Washington University · Saint Louis, United States · NIH-11382263

• Imaging genetics of laryngeal dystonia

  A research project aims to find brain and genetic signs that help detect and differentiate laryngeal dystonia earlier and more accurately.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11370146

• THAP1’s role in brain cell support and development

  A study to understand how the THAP1 gene in oligodendrocyte cells helps shape the brain’s surrounding matrix and support myelin formation in adults and during development.

  NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11334331

• AI brain-scan test to diagnose isolated dystonia

  This project tests an AI tool that reads brain scans to help doctors diagnose people with isolated dystonia more quickly and accurately.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11326218

• Where and when dystonia starts in the developing brain

  This project explores how early brain changes lead to developmental dystonia to help children and others with early-onset dystonia.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11307130

• Finding the genes behind X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism

  This project looks for specific genetic changes linked to X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism and explores laboratory approaches to correct those changes for people affected by the condition.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11285328

• Caregiver-reported Dystonia Impact in Cerebral Palsy (CARDI-CP)

  A caregiver-facing project to create an easy, reliable way for families to describe how dystonia affects children and adults with cerebral palsy.

  NIH research Washington University · Saint Louis, United States · NIH-11277150

• How acetylcholine-producing brain cells in the striatum relate to adult-onset dystonia

  Using a specialized PET scan and MRI, doctors will look at acetylcholine-related brain cells and networks in adults with focal dystonia to find common brain changes.

  NIH research Washington University · Saint Louis, United States · NIH-11247572

• How a DYT1 gene change affects brain cells in mice

  Researchers are studying how the common DYT1 gene deletion affects specific brain cells in mice to help people with early-onset DYT1 dystonia.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11232412

• Understanding how a specific protein affects brain development and function

  This study is looking at how a specific protein related to DYT6 dystonia helps keep the brain's support system healthy during development, which could help us understand more about dystonia and similar brain conditions.

  NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11231925

• How the DYT1 gene change affects specific brain cells that control movement

  Researchers are using specially engineered mice to learn how the DYT1 (TOR1A ΔGAG) genetic change disrupts brain cells involved in movement for people with early-onset DYT1 dystonia.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11173797

• Neck and shoulder strength training for cervical dystonia

  This project tests whether a progressive resistance exercise program for neck and shoulder muscles can change brain function and help people with cervical (neck) dystonia.

  NIH research University of Florida · Gainesville, United States · NIH-11173596

• Spinal baclofen pump treatment for children with dystonia

  This project sees whether a spinal baclofen pump can improve movement, reduce pain, and make daily care easier for children with dystonia from cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11171360

• Deep brain stimulation to improve voice in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor

  Researchers will record brain activity during and before DBS surgery to learn how stimulation changes voice control in people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11161200

• Brain causes of vocal spasms (laryngeal dystonia) and voice tremor

  This project uses advanced brain imaging while people speak to find when and where brain activity goes wrong in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11161199

• Telling strained voices apart from shaky voices to improve diagnosis

  This project looks for clear voice and clinical features to help people with strained, stopped, or shaky speech get the right diagnosis faster.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11161197

• Understanding voice spasms and tremors (laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor)

  This program will map patterns and causes of voice spasms and tremors to help people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor get more accurate diagnoses and better treatments.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11161195

• Understanding Sex Differences in Dystonia

  This research explores why dystonia, a movement disorder, affects more females than males by looking at differences in brain function.

  NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-11159745

• Adaptive brain-computer feedback therapy for voice spasms

  This trial uses a brain‑computer interface to give people with laryngeal dystonia real‑time brain feedback to help reduce involuntary voice spasms.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11159412

• Understanding Laryngeal Dystonia Through Brain Imaging and Genetics

  This research looks for unique brain patterns and genetic clues to help doctors better understand and diagnose laryngeal dystonia, a condition affecting speech.

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-11140438

• Understanding how a specific protein affects brain development in DYT6 dystonia

  This work explores how a protein called THAP1, linked to DYT6 dystonia, helps shape the brain's support system during development.

  NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11127427

• Abnormal cerebellar nerve activity linked to dystonia

  Researchers will look for distinctive nerve-cell firing patterns in the cerebellum that may explain dystonia in children and adults using mouse models.

  NIH research Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · Blacksburg, United States · NIH-11117196

• Identifying specific brain cell activity patterns in dystonia

  This study is looking at how the brain cells in the cerebellum behave differently in people with dystonia, a condition that causes unwanted muscle movements, to help find better treatments for it.

  NIH research Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · Blacksburg, United States · NIH-11082166

• Understanding the brain changes that lead to dystonia in children and adults

  This study is looking at how certain brain changes in young people might lead to dystonia, a condition that causes painful muscle spasms and movement problems, to help find better ways to treat both kids and adults with this condition.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11067779

• Understanding how genetics affect dosing of a medication for children with movement disorders.

  This study is looking at how kids with cerebral palsy process the medication Trihexyphenidyl differently based on their genes, so we can find the best dose for each child and make their treatment safer and more effective.

  NIH research Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) · Kansas City, United States · NIH-11052990

• Investigating how specific brain cells contribute to abnormal movements in dystonia.

  This study is looking at special brain cells that help control movement to understand why they don't work properly in people with DYT1 dystonia, a condition that causes twisting movements, and the goal is to find new ways to help those affected by similar movement issues.

  NIH research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, United States · NIH-11017050

• Investigating how brain stimulation affects voice function in laryngeal dystonia

  This study is looking at how a special brain technique can help people with laryngeal dystonia, a condition that makes it hard to speak due to muscle spasms, by improving their voice production and finding better treatments.

  NIH research Mgh Institute of Health Professions · Charlestown, UNITED STATES · NIH-11015800

• Understanding the role of specific brain cells in adult-onset dystonia

  This study is looking at how certain brain cells might play a role in causing adult-onset dystonia, a condition that leads to unwanted muscle movements, and aims to find better treatments by understanding how these cells work in the brain.

  NIH research Washington University · Saint Louis, United States · NIH-11000785

• Investigating how a specific mutation in a protein affects brain function in dystonia patients

  This study is looking at how a specific change in a protein called PKR might affect brain health and contribute to conditions like familial dystonia, and it invites patients to share skin samples to help researchers learn more about this connection.

  NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-10997698

• Understanding immune mechanisms in cervical dystonia

  This study is looking at how the immune system might be involved in cervical dystonia, a condition that causes uncontrollable muscle contractions in the neck, by comparing immune cells and brain samples from people with the condition to those without it, to help find better ways to diagnose and treat it.

  NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-10985509

• Understanding the brain changes that cause muscle spasms in dystonia

  This study is looking at how changes in the brain might cause the muscle spasms seen in dystonia, using MRI scans to find out which brain areas are involved, with the hope of discovering new ways to help manage this challenging condition.

  NIH research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, United States · NIH-10923910

• Using deep brain stimulation to improve voice control in patients with movement disorders

  This study is looking at how a treatment called deep brain stimulation can help people with movement disorders, like laryngeal dystonia and essential tremor, improve their voice control while they talk, so they can better understand how the brain affects voice production and find new ways to help those struggling with

  NIH research Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Boston, United States · NIH-10915599

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Dystonia clinical trials are recruiting right now?

31, as of November 12, 2026. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 19 countries. The most sites are in United States (18 trials), Germany (7 trials), United Kingdom (5 trials), Italy (4 trials), Canada (3 trials). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 2: 1, Phase 1: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

Find the studies that fit you

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