Institution:
School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical CenterResearchers:
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry researchers Karl Kieburtz, M.D., M.P.H. and Ira Shoulson, M.D.
Impact:
The University of Rochester Clinical Trials Coordination Center (CTCC) and the Parkinson’s Study Group (PSG) were founded by UR neurologists to create the infrastructure and national networks necessary conduct multi-site clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease. Since their inception 30 years ago, the two organizations have partnered with numerous pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bring new drugs for Parkinson’s disease to the market including pramipexole, entacapone, rotigotine and rasagiline. These drugs have helped transform this once deadly disease into essentially a manageable chronic illness.
Timeline:
The CTCC and the PSG were both formed in 1986. PSG currently consists of a network comprises 132 credentialed Parkinson’s Disease Centers throughout North America.