UTMOVE Clinical Research

UTMOVE offers leading-edge observational and interventional studies. We hope to understand more about the underlying mechanisms of disease and develop novel disease-modifying therapies for movement disorders through research.

Some of our current trials include:

Parkinson’s Disease

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqVj-Axdh5I

MSC-II: Placebo-controlled trial of allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell as a disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
FMT: Placebo-controlled trial of fecal microbiome transplant as a therapy for Parkinson disease.
CVL-751-PD-001: Placebo-controlled trial on the use of Tavapadon as monotherapy early in Parkinson’s disease
CVL-751-PD-002: Placebo-controlled trial on the use of Tavapadon as add therapy in advanced in Parkinson’s disease.
Neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease: an observational study that explores the immune system’s role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.

For more information about these trials, please contact Vanessa.K.Thyne@uth.tmc.edu or 713-500-7127.

Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s Disease or HD is a rare inherited brain disorder that occurs due to extensive polynucleotide (CAG) repeats (39+) in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). HD is spread in an autosomal dominant manner, thus when a parent is a carrier of the mutant Huntingtin gene (mHTT) there is a fifty-percent chance of the disease associated gene being passed onto the next familial generation. HD is a broad-spectrum neurologic disorder that includes motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. The cognitive and psychiatric disruptions either tend to proceed or occur in tandem with the more immediately present movement disorders (chorea) that accompany HD. The typical age of onset is between 30-50 years old. HD onset leads to a progressive decline and physical and mental capabilities as well as increased risk to injury via falls or susceptibility to infection. The course of the Huntington’s disease can be well managed with medication, counseling, physical therapy and other treatment options. While there is no definitive cure for HD, there is promising research being conducted aimed to further seek to achieve that goal and to help improve the quality of life for those at-risk or living with HD by alleviating the symptomatic aspects.

Enroll-HD: worldwide observational study for Huntington’s Disease to monitor how HD changes over time. (Currently Enrolling)
KINECT-HD2: clinical trial studying the efficacy of valbenazine for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease. (Currently Enrolling)
CHANGE-HD: an observational study evaluating patients at risk for developing Huntington’s disease from 6-30 years old to better understand the developing brain in at risk individuals. (Currently Enrolling)
DIMENSION – evaluate the effect of SAGE-718 on cognitive function in HD. – (Currently Enrolling)
SURVEYOR – 28-day study for SAGE-718 on cognitive performance for early HD patients, involves driving simulation. – (Not Yet Enrolling)
PIVOT-HD – study the safety and effectiveness of PTC518 in HD HD by lowering total huntingtin protein. – (Not Yet Enrolling)
Irritability in HD: clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of Nuedexta for the treatment of irritability in patients with Huntington’s disease. (Not Enrolling)
Sleep Disorders in HD: clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of Melatonin for the management of sleep problems in patients with Huntington’s disease. (Currently Enrolling)
Olfactory dysfunction in HD: one-time study visit to evaluate changes in olfaction (smell) in regards to HD. (Currently Enrolling)
HD-Clarity: an observational study to evaluate biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Huntington’s disease. (Currently Enrolling)
uniQure: clinical trial looking to demonstrate the safety and tolerability of AMT-130 when delivered directly to the brain of patients with Huntington’s disease. (Currently Enrolling)
“tDCS” for HD – clinical trial to assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for patients in the early to mid-stages of HD. The study period is 8 weeks. (Currently Enrolling)

For more information about these trials, please contact Jamie.Sims@uth.tmc.edu at 713-500-7763 or; Brittany.J.Duncan@uth.tmc.edu at 713-486-3134.

Research Staff

Research Coordinators:
Vanessa Thyne, MS
Jamie Sims, BS, CCRP
Brittany J Duncan, BS
Frank Ramirez, BS

Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension

Restore: double-blinded trial on the use of droxidopa for the management of orthostatic hypotension in non-diabetic patients.

For more information about this trial, please contact Brittany.J.Duncan@uth.tmc.edu or call 713-486-3134.

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder

An observational study that aims to identify conversion biomarkers for patients with REM sleep behavior disorder.

For more information about this trial, please contact Vanessa.K.Thyne@uth.tmc.edu or call 713-500-7127.

Deep Brain Stimulation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrzrd4QtVHY&feature=emb_logo

Product Surveillance Registry: prospective, long-term international multi-center registry to monitor the performance of DBS.
Connectivity changes in Essential Tremor: an observational study that aims to elucidate the structural and functional connectivity changes in Essential Tremor after DBS.

For more information about these trials, please contact Tammy.R.Daniele@uth.tmc.edu or call 713-500-7073; Vanessa.K.Thyne@uth.tmc.edu or call 713-500-7127.

Spasticity Management

Product Surveillance Registry: prospective, long-term international multi-center registry to monitor the performance of Intrathecal baclofen pumps (ITB) as targeted drug delivery (TDD).

For more information about these trials, please contact Tammy.R.Daniele@uth.tmc.edu or call 713-500-7073.

Research Staff:

Research Scientist:
Jessika Suescun, MD

Research Coordinators:
Vanessa Thyne, MS
Jamie Sims, BS, CCRP
Brittany J Duncan, BS

Program Manager and Fellowship Coordinator:
Gloria Galvan