Treating Parkinson's Disease Through Transplantation of Autologous Stem Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons (NCT06687837)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of the surgical transplantation of dopaminergic progenitor cells into the brains of participants with Parkinson's disease. The transplanted dopaminergic cells will be derived from the participant's own skin cells.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (18 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (25 items).
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects unable to give consent due to dementia or psychosis.
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \< 26
- Subjects with a first-degree relative with Parkinson's disease or with a known genetic mutation predisposing to the development of Parkinson's disease (i.e. this initial study is confined to the more common "sporadic" vs a "genetic" form of the disease).
- Atypical Parkinsonism (Parkinson's-Plus syndrome, secondary parkinsonism)
- Moderate or severe levodopa-induced dyskinesias in any body segment (such patients were found to be more prone to graft-induced dyskinesias in the fetal tissue studies that are proof of priniciple for this therapy)
- Neurologic history or imaging demonstrating brain pathology not directly related to Parkinson's disease that is likely to interfere with study compliance or assessment of Parkinson's related motor disability.
- History of stroke or transient ischemic attack
- History of subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Presence or history of psychosis within 12 months of screening
- Suicidal ideation associated with intent or plan in the past 12 months (an answer of "yes" to C-SSRS questions 4 or 5) or with a previous history of suicide attempts in the past 5 years.
- History of intracranial surgery including deep brain stimulation, focused ultrasound, stereotactic or radiosurgical lesion therapy
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.