Could your own nerves help heal Parkinson's? small trial begins

NCT ID NCT05377281

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Craig van Horne, MD, PhD Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This early-stage trial tests whether implanting a small piece of a patient's own nerve tissue into the brain during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is safe and feasible. Ten people with Parkinson's disease will receive the implant, and researchers will monitor them for a year. The goal is to see if the procedure can be done successfully without major complications.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: patient's own peripheral nerve tissue (sural nerve)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new way to repair brain damage in Parkinson's disease using the patient's own tissue.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small trial with only 10 people, focused on safety and feasibility. It may not show any benefit, and there are risks from surgery and nerve biopsy.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Parkinson disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.