What is basic science research?
Basic science is pure/scientific research that is typically conducted “benchtop” or in a lab and aims to improve the understanding of disease.
What is clinical research?
Clinical research is the scientific study of health and illness in people, often done by conducting clinical trials
What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are clinical research studies that aim to determine the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, and treatment regiments. They are divided into four phases.
- Phase 1: Test safety and dosages
- Phase 2: Test safety and side effects
- Phase 3: Test safety and effectiveness
- Phase 4: Post-approval monitoring of safety and effectiveness

Why should you participate in clinical research?
- All of the current treatments came through clinical trials.
- Low participation rates mean that clinical trials do no finish on time. That means there are delays in advances.
- People in clinic trials tend to have better clinical outcomes. This could be because they are more closely observed by an expert clinician, a placebo effect, or because it inspires hope.
- It is a unique gift that you can give to the community.
What clinical research is currently being conducted at the University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center?
We are currently engaged in a wide range of clinical research, including:
- Neuroprotective agents and treatment drug trials for Parkinson disease
- Innovative drug delivery systems for Parkinson disease
- Natural history, rating scale, and genetic studies in dystonia
- Medical marijuana for Parkinson disease
- Novel deep brain stimulation targets for Parkinson disease
- Symptom treatments for Huntington disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, and Parkinson disease dementia
- Music therapy and palliative care for Parkinson disease and dementia
- Non-invasive neurostimulation for the treatment of dystonia
Additional Resources
ClinicalTrials.gov
Fox Trial Finder
Fox Insight
Parkinson’s Foundatio: PD GENEration
23andMe
Brain Donation Resources
Brain donation is a powerful way to help advance research. If you are interested, please call the office of Decedent Affairs at 720-848-4356.