10 Fox Focus | Research
Research Briefs
Engaging Underrepresented Communities in FIRE-UP PD
A more holistic view of Parkinson ’ s disease will help uncover clues needed to develop treatments that work for all patients . The Michael J . Fox Foundation ( MJFF ) funded Fostering Inclusivity in Research Engagement for Underrepresented Populations in Parkinson ’ s Disease ( FIRE-UP PD ) to engage underrepresented populations in research .
The study , a partnership with the Community Access , Recruitment and Engagement Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital , aimed to learn about the barriers people face in getting involved in research and enroll a more diverse pool of participants in MJFF ’ s online clinical study , Fox Insight .
Four sites identified a different culturally relevant intervention to increase knowledge and awareness around Parkinson ’ s and Fox Insight . The top barriers to participation were language , the digital divide and time commitment .
Results showed that FIRE-UP PD helped increase diversity in Fox Insight . Results showed that FIRE-UP PD helped increase representation in Fox Insight among people of color , low-income and low-education communities .
Harnessing Technology for Hard-to-Treat Symptoms
Last year , we awarded $ 3 million in grants for research into how to apply technologies to address issues with gait and balance in Parkinson ’ s . Building on success of the program , we broadened the scope to include other hard-to-treat symptoms .
One new project we are funding addresses swallowing problems , which can make eating difficult and increase risk for choking and pneumonia . Dr . Shuai Xu , a physician-engineer at Northwestern University , is optimizing a small , wearable device that helps people swallow with more force by vibrating as a reminder . Patients will test the optimized device for 12 weeks at home to see if it improves swallowing .
Also , Christopher Whitlow , MD , PhD , at Wake Forest School of Medicine , will conduct a study using Scion NeuroStim ’ s non-invasive neuromodulation device , which looks like a pair of headphones that sends heat through the ear to stimulate the brain . Earlier evidence suggests the device may treat a range of motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson ’ s , including fatigue and mood issues . All our applied technology grants included review by people with Parkinson ’ s who advised on their feasibility and usefulness .