By Elizabeth Grover
Recently I participated in the Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Protocol, a research study headed by Dr. Alberto Espay of the UC Gardner Center. In many ways the appointment (my one-year follow-up) was like my regular appointments at the UCGNI. I parked in the same lot underneath, registered at the same desk, and waited in the same “living room” on the 3rd floor. But the person who called me back was Deepa Agrawal Hajaj, a Clinical Research professional with the study. Deepa is very kind and friendly, as are all of the six doctors and several support staff who work on the study. I have met a few others, as the physicians are called in to do the motor skills testing.
In addition to that motor exam, the appointment involved updating the extensive medical and family histories taken during the first appointment, as well as detailing how my Parkinson’s is going and how it is affecting my quality of life. I gave all the answers requested as openly and honestly as I could. I hope my information will be of help.
The goal of this study (as I understand it ) is to discover biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease. That would mean that there would be something in the biology of the body of a person that could lead a physician to accurately diagnose PD and also would allow categorizing the type of PD. Parkinson’s is so complex that it is now thought that it is bunch of closely related but separate diseases. If the treatments could be targeted to the different kinds of the disorder, they could potentially be more effective. Now that sounds helpful!
Dr. Espay needs more folks both with and without Parkinson’s to volunteer for this study. Write to ccbpstyudy@uc.edu to indicate your interest. It is easy, not too terribly time-consuming, and mostly non-invasive (except for the blood draw). And since you get paid $100 for each study visit, it is really worth it. Now imagine getting paid for helping to find a cure for PD!