Biomarkers that predict how Parkinson’s will progress
Official title: Biomarkers of disease severity and progression in Parkinson's
Funded at Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-11596609 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant aims to find markers, like brain imaging and blood tests, that could tell doctors early on which people with Parkinson’s are likely to see faster or slower disease progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 7IK2CX002539-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596609 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease, including veterans, who may contribute blood samples and undergo imaging over time.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease does not progress differently than expected or who cannot undergo imaging or blood tests may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Parkinson’s disease varies a lot from person to person, and veterans may be at higher risk due to exposure-related factors. The project looks for biological signals in brain scans and blood cells that might predict how quickly someone with PD will worsen. If successful, these biomarkers could help tailor care plans and improve how clinical trials are designed. The work centers on mitochondrial function as a potential key indicator of progression. The study is conducted at the Iowa City VA Medical Center with Veteran participants in mind.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If biomarkers are identified, patients could receive more personalized care and trials could be designed to test treatments sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in linking mitochondrial function and PD progression, but robust predictive biomarkers are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neilson, Lee — Iowa City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Neilson, Lee
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.