“Show Us the Cure” initiative seeks grassroots support to improve clinical trial process

Sheryl Jedlinski, co-founder PDPlan4life

PDPlan4life - People with Parkinson’s (PWP) are stepping up to the plate to do their part to increase participation in clinical trials, bring new therapies to market sooner, and hasten discovery of a cure for Parkinson’s disease. To achieve these goals members of the Parkinson Pipeline Project and PDPlan4life — with the support of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation — have written the Declaration of Clinical Research Rights and Responsibilities for People with Parkinson's (PWP).

The Declaration reflects the experiences of PWP who have participated in clinical trials, incorporating their suggestions for improving the process and the treatment of human trial participants, and adding safeguards to help build trust among all stakeholders in the drug development process.

Finding a cure for Parkinson’s is directly related to recruiting and retaining enough PWP to participate in clinical trials. Currently, fewer than 1% of PWP enroll in clinical trials. This is far below the number needed, delaying many promising trials. Making matters worse, the drug development process can take over a decade to complete, and the majority of drug candidates never make it to the pharmacy.

Now, we need you to join us as a catalyst for change. Your feedback and endorsement are critical to moving forward, and winning acceptance of this Declaration and adherence to its principles by all stakeholders in the clinical trial process. Please visit www.showusthecure.com and add your name to our growing list of grassroots supporters.

If we want to spare our children and grandchildren the pain of living with Parkinson’s, the time to act is now. We hope you will join our grassroots initiative, Show Us the Cure.