Category: Parkinson’s Disease: Clinical Trials
Objective: To select up to 40 delivery sites to successfully recruit and retain a participant population representative of people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) in the UK.
Background: The Edmond J Safra Accelerating Clinical Trials in Parkinson’s Disease (EJS ACT-PD) multi-arm, multi-stage trial will efficiently assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of potential disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the rate of PD progression. Recruiting up to 1,600 PwP, it is crucial that delivery sites achieve recruitment targets whilst providing inclusive research participation opportunity. The EJS ACT-PD Infrastructure Working Group, which included PwP and representatives from sites and the UK National Institute of Health Research, Research Delivery Network (NIHR RDN) developed a multi-step process to inform site identification and placement of core-funded study delivery staff to support efficient and diverse trial recruitment, long-term participant retention and retained delivery expertise.
Method: An expression of interest (EoI) survey was widely disseminated to potential sites via the NIHR RDN. A trial delivery webinar provided site teams with an overview of trial processes. The EoI survey captured information on sites’ relevant research experience, capabilities and infrastructure. EoI responses were used to create a longlist and categorise sites into 1 of 3 tiers (tier 3 being most experienced, tier 1 being least); follow-up surveys and scoring informed shortlisting. Selected shortlisted site teams, based on their ranking, geographical location and diversity index, were invited for interview to discuss placement of dedicated trial-funded staff support. The interview, conducted by the trial team, investigators and PwP, focussed on experience, capacity and patient-centredness of approach.
Results: 40 sites have been selected to deliver the EJS ACT-PD Trial with various levels of experience in PD research delivery (tier 3 = 23, tier 2 = 15, tier 1 = 2), with a tier 3 site in each RDN region and devolved nation. 24 Sites have been selected to receive trial-funded staff time.
Conclusion: A structured approach to site selection will support large-scale, inclusive participant recruitment, engagement with under-served demographic populations, and build on PD research infrastructure in less experienced sites.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
G. Mills, M-L. Zeissler, O. Bandmann, R. Barker, J. Carpenter, S. Collins, J. Duffen, S. Gandhi, L. Houlden, C. Gonzalez-Robles, C. Mcalpine, K. Mcfarthing, C. Pugh, A. Schapira, A. Schrag, C. Shakeshaft, T. Foltynie, C. Carroll. A Systematic Site Selection Approach to Ensure Efficient and Diverse Participant Recruitment to a Large-Scale Multi-Arm, Multi-Stage Platform Trial for Parkinson’s [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-systematic-site-selection-approach-to-ensure-efficient-and-diverse-participant-recruitment-to-a-large-scale-multi-arm-multi-stage-platform-trial-for-parkinsons/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-systematic-site-selection-approach-to-ensure-efficient-and-diverse-participant-recruitment-to-a-large-scale-multi-arm-multi-stage-platform-trial-for-parkinsons/