Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection in Parkinson's Disease

A Consortium for Gut-Brain Communication in Parkinson's Disease

['FUNDING_U01'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11173867

This project brings together experts to understand how the gut and brain communicate in people with Parkinson's disease.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorMASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11173867 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

We are building a registry of people with Parkinson's disease, both with and without gut issues, along with healthy volunteers. Participants will have thorough assessments of their Parkinson's symptoms and gut health. A smaller group will undergo special brain and gut imaging after meals to observe how these systems interact. Another group will have their sleep, daily rhythms, and gut movement patterns closely monitored to uncover connections with Parkinson's disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals with Parkinson's disease, with or without gut symptoms, and healthy people of similar age and sex.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have Parkinson's disease or are not interested in contributing to a research registry may not directly benefit from this specific opportunity.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and manage both gut and brain symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

How similar studies have performed: While the gut-brain connection in Parkinson's is an active area of research, this consortium aims to gather comprehensive data on a large scale, which is a novel and integrated approach.

Where this research is happening

BOSTON, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.