ENIGMA Global Parkinson's Brain Imaging Network
ENIGMA Parkinson’s Initiative: A Global Initiative for Parkinson’s Disease
This project combines brain scans from around the world to look for consistent brain changes tied to Parkinson's disease that could help people living with PD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177817 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will pool MRI scans and clinical information from many clinics worldwide and reanalyze them using common methods to find reliable brain signatures of Parkinson's. The work uses structural MRI, diffusion MRI, and resting-state functional MRI to study areas like the basal ganglia and motor cortex and how brain networks change with disease. By bringing together much larger, more diverse groups than typical single-site studies, the team aims to reduce false leads and make findings that work across countries and populations. Stronger brain markers could improve how doctors track progression and help select or measure treatments in future trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Parkinson's disease who can undergo MRI and are willing to share clinical data or scans with a participating site would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI (for example due to metal implants), those without Parkinson's, or anyone seeking an immediate treatment effect are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide objective brain measures to track Parkinson's progression and make clinical trials and care more reliable.
How similar studies have performed: The ENIGMA consortium has produced large, reproducible imaging findings in disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, epilepsy, and autism, and applying this pooled-MRI approach to Parkinson's is a logical but still-developing step.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Paul M — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Paul M
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 below.