Improving patient participation in Parkinson‘s clinical trials: the experience of the Michael J Fox Foundation

Timely and efficient clinical trial recruitment is a chronic problem across diseases. The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson‘s Research (MJFF) is a leading funder and sponsor of Parkinson‘s disease research. Solving recruitment challenges in Parkinson‘s disease is a priority for the MJFF and led to the development of an online tool – Fox Trial Finder – that connects participants to trials. As the sponsor of the Parkinson‘s Progression Markers Initiative, an observational biomarkers study, the MJFF developed first-hand expertise in recruitment planning and tactical implementation. Solving poor enrollment relies on all stakeholders involved – sponsors, funders, site personnel and patients – to work together to raise awareness of the problem and implement strategies to increase the number of people who participate in research.