Understanding Parkinson's Disease through the Gut-Brain Connection

The Gut Brain Parkinson's Disease Consortium (GBPDC): Coordinating and Data Management Center (CDMC)

NIH-funded research Duke University · NIH-11163498

This effort helps organize information and samples from people with Parkinson's disease to better understand how the gut and brain are connected in this condition.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDuke University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11163498 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Parkinson's disease causes a gradual loss of brain cells, leading to symptoms like tremor and stiffness. We know that gut problems can appear early in the disease, suggesting the gut might be a key area to explore for new ways to diagnose or treat Parkinson's. This project creates a central hub to manage and share valuable biological samples and data from people with Parkinson's, focusing on the gut-brain link. Our goal is to speed up the discovery of new tools and markers that could help identify Parkinson's earlier.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with Parkinson's disease, particularly those experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, may be ideal candidates for future related studies contributing samples or data.

Not a fit: Patients not interested in contributing biological samples or data to a central repository may not directly benefit from this specific coordinating effort.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease through gut-based tests, potentially allowing for earlier interventions.

How similar studies have performed: While the gut-brain connection in Parkinson's is an active area of investigation, this consortium aims to create a novel, comprehensive resource to accelerate discoveries.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.