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Brain pacemaker study seeks better patterns for movement disorders

NCT ID NCT02553525

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Duke University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only This study
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looks at how different patterns of deep brain stimulation (DBS) affect movement symptoms and brain activity in people with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, multiple sclerosis, or dystonia. Researchers will test non-regular stimulation patterns to find ways to make DBS more effective and reliable. The goal is to better understand how DBS works, which could lead to improved treatments in the future. About 180 participants who are already scheduled for DBS surgery will take part.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 180 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jun 2016

Expected to finish

Mar 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

21 to 80 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD), Essential Tremor (ET) dystonia or Multiple Sclerosis (MS) * Scheduled to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) electrode implant, IPG implant or implanted pulse generator (IPG) replacement surgery * Neurologically stable * Able to understand the study and consent form Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to execute the motor tasks during the study * Inability to tolerate withholding anti-parkinsonian and/or anti-tremor medications * Clinically ineffective DBS

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Dystonia dystonic disorder essential tremor Hypokinesia movement disorder multiple sclerosis nervous system disorder neurodegenerative disease Parkinson disease Tremor

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Dystonia Essential tremor Multiple sclerosis Parkinson disease

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27708, United States

  • Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

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