Changing brain circuits to improve symptoms in Parkinson's disease
Official title: Targeted Cortical Circuit Manipulation in Parkinson's Disease
Funded at Georgetown University · NIH-11059775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to help people with Parkinson's disease feel better by using special tools to adjust brain activity, aiming to improve both movement and other symptoms that affect daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgetown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $220,075 |
| NIH project number | 7R21NS135545-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who experience motor and nonmotor symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Parkinson's disease who do not exhibit significant motor or emotional symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on using innovative tools to manipulate specific brain circuits in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) to alleviate both motor and nonmotor symptoms. By targeting the primary motor cortex, the study aims to adjust the activity of certain neurons that are disrupted in PD, potentially restoring more normal brain function. The approach involves collaboration between PD researchers and developers of advanced brain intervention technologies, leveraging findings from both human and animal models. The goal is to explore how these targeted interventions can lead to improvements in the quality of life for PD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that significantly improve motor and emotional symptoms for patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using targeted neural modulation to improve symptoms in Parkinson's disease, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgetown University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chu, Hong-Yuan — Georgetown University
- Study coordinator: Chu, Hong-Yuan
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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.