Current studies

The Neurodegeneration Imaging Group has a large portfolio of studies. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any of your studies or if you have any questions.

Please click on the links below for further study information:

Parkinson’s Disease Study – Molecular and functional imaging in monogenic Parkinson’s disease

Who: We are looking for patients with a diagnosis of familial (genetic mutation) Parkinson’s Disease aged 25 or more, who are willing and able to participate in a research study sponsored by the University of Exeter.

What: The study consists of the following procedures which will be performed over four (4) visits:

Clinical assessments;
Brain imaging scans with PET and MRI;
Brain imaging scans with SPECT;
Lumbar puncture (optional)

The research will take place in West London, at the Hammersmith Hospital Campus.

If you decide to take part we will provide taxi transport and refreshments. You will receive compensation as a thank you for devoting your time for participating to this research.

The PET and SPECT imaging procedures require the injection of a small amount of a radioactive agent. Full details of what the study involves are explained in a Participant Information Sheet.

Why: Our aim is to help understand what are the causes of a disease called Parkinson’s disease. To do so we would like to study volunteers with documented mutations for genes known to increase the risk of having Parkinson’s disease. The imaging scans provide information on microscopical and molecular alterations taking place in the brain, to a level that is not visible during a clinical visit but can be very informative to understand what is the cause of this disease. Overall, our findings will provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes specific for the disease, which will help us track the progression of Parkinson’s disease. More importantly, this study will help with the discovery and development of new medications aiming to delay the progression of symptoms caused by familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease.

The study is conducted by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, led by Professor Marios Politis (Chief Investigator), and sponsored by the University of Exeter. The work carried out by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group aims to investigate the causes of neurological diseases and identify new targets for treatments.

Contact us

If you are interested in this or any of our research studies, please email us for full details of what the study involves. This is also explained in a Participant Information Sheet which will be provided to you. If you are interested to find out more, please contact Email: neuro@exeter.ac.uk

Parkinson’s Disease Study – Longitudinal investigation of I2BS in Parkinson’s disease

Who: We are looking for healthy volunteers, and patients with a diagnosis of sporadic or familial (genetic mutation) Parkinson’s disease, aged 25 or more, who are willing and able to participate in a research study sponsored by the University of Exeter.

What: The study consists of the following procedures which will be performed over four (4) visits, at baseline, to be repeated after one year (total of up to 8 visits):

Clinical assessments (including collection of a blood sample);
Brain imaging scans with PET and MRI;
Brain imaging scans with SPECT;
Lumbar puncture (optional)

The research will take place in West London, at the Hammersmith Hospital Campus.

Transport, accommodation, and refreshments will be provided for the visit to one of the study’s clinical research sites.

You will receive compensation as a thank you for devoting your time for participating to this research.

The PET and SPECT imaging procedures require the injection of a small amount of a radioactive agent. Full details of what the study involves are explained in a Participant Information Sheet.

Why: Our aim is to help understand the role of inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. The imaging scans provide information on the level of inflammation. Through this research, we hope to provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes in Parkinson’s disease, which could help us track the disease progression. The findings from this study could help with the discovery and development of new medications aiming to delay the progression of symptoms caused by familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease.

The study is conducted by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, led by Professor Marios Politis (Chief Investigator), and sponsored by the University of Exeter. The research carried out by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group aims to investigate the causes of neurological diseases and identify new targets for treatments.

Contact us

Parkinson’s Disease Study – Serotonin release in premotor and motor Parkinson’s disease

What: The study consists of the following procedures which will be performed over four (4) visits:

Clinical assessments;
Brain imaging scans with PET and MRI;
Brain imaging scans with SPECT;
Lumbar puncture (optional)

The research will take place in West London, at the Hammersmith Hospital Campus.

If you decide to take part we will provide taxi transport and refreshments. You will receive a compensation as a thank you for devoting your time for participating to this research.

The PET and SPECT imaging procedures require the injection of a small amount of a radioactive agent. Full details of what the study involves are explained in a Participant Information Sheet.

Why: Our aim is to help understand what are the causes of a disease called Parkinson’s disease. To do so we would like to study volunteers with documented mutations for genes known to increase the risk of having Parkinson’s disease. The imaging scans provide information on microscopical and molecular alterations taking place in the brain, to a level that is not visible during a clinical visit but can be very informative to understand what is the cause of this disease. Overall, our findings will provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes specific for the disease, which will help us track the progression of Parkinson’s disease. More importantly, this study will help with the discovery and development of new medications aiming to delay the progression of symptoms caused by familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease.

The study is conducted by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, led by Professor Marios Politis (Chief Investigator), and sponsored by the University of Exeter. The work carried out by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group aims to investigate the causes of neurological diseases and identify new targets for treatments.

Contact us

Parkinson’s Disease Study – LPS challenge in Parkinson’s disease using TSPO PET-MR imaging

Who: We are looking for healthy volunteers and patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, who are willing and able to participate in a research study sponsored by the University of Exeter.

What: The study consists of the following procedures which will be performed over two (2) visits:

Clinical assessments;
Administration of a substance called Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Brain imaging scans with PET/MR before and after the administration of LPS;
Blood and urine sample collection;

Where: The research will take place in Exeter and in West London, at the Hammersmith Hospital Campus.

The study requires the injection of a small amount of a radioactive agent and the administration of LPS that may cause a mild degree of inflammatory response and have mild side effects (e.g. transient fever, shivers, headache, a transitory decrease of blood pressure etc.).

Why: Objective of this research study is to help understand the mechanisms of inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. Inflammation of the brain cells is present in patients with Parkinson’s disease but we do not know why, and how this occurs. In this study, we will use a substance called LPS that is known to cause a mild inflammatory response and will measure if the brain cells of the patients with Parkinson’s disease are more susceptible to this stimulation compared with healthy volunteers. Our findings will provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes specific for Parkinson’s disease. This in turn, can help us to identify new ways to intervene with therapies aimed to slow the progression of the disease.

The study is conducted by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, led by Professor Marios Politis (Principal Investigator), and sponsored by the University of Exeter. The work carried out by the Neurodegeneration Imaging Group aims to investigate the causes of neurological diseases and identify new targets for treatments of Parkinson’s disease.

If you decide to take part, we will provide transportation, accommodation and refreshments for you and a companion, if needed.

We will offer you a thank you sum at the end of the study for the time taken to participate in this research.

Contact us

Parkinson's Disease Study - Sleep and Genetics in Parkinson’s Disease

Research study title: Study on the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in aquaporin-4 (AQP4) gene on the clinical phenotype in patients with idiopathic and familial Parkinson’s Disease.

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a type of movement disorder that can affect the ability to perform common, daily activities. It is a chronic and progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms become worse over time. It is characterised by its most common of motor symptoms—tremors which are a form of rhythmic shaking, stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of movement (called bradykinesia). It can also manifest in non-motor symptoms including sleep problems, constipation, depression and anxiety, and fatigue.

Who are we and our research?

The Neurodegeneration Imaging Group (NIG) is headed by Professor Marios Politis and primarily focuses in the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) molecular imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Clinical observation to study common (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease) and less common (Huntington’s disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal degeneration and Motor Neurone Disease) neurodegenerative disorders. The NIG develops and establishes a range of new projects and approaches for investigating aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, progression, and identification of novel molecular targets for pharmacotherapy in neurodegenerative disorders.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological condition which worsens over time and mainly affects body movements. In PD, we know that there is a build-up of certain proteins inside the brain, the most important of which is called α-synuclein. The build-up of this protein is thought to negatively affect, and ultimately kill, brain cells. It is not known how or why this protein builds up in the brain. If more information was available, drugs could be created with the aim of delaying or completely stopping the progression of the disease.

Very recently, it was discovered that the brain has its own system to get rid of waste and that this system works best during sleep. It is called the “glymphatic system”, and researchers believe that reduced activity of this system is responsible for the build- up of unwanted molecules inside the brain. A protein called Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) plays an important role in the glymphatic system running effectively. It is thought that changes in the AQP4 protein may reduce glymphatic system function and contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown us that certain genetic changes in the AQP4 gene are associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

These AQP4 genetic changes are very common in the general population and do not directly cause a specific disease or condition, however, they might increase (or decrease) the overall risk in developing a condition during an individual’s life. So far, no study has ever checked whether having certain genetic changes in the AQP4 gene influences the course of Parkinson’s disease.

With this study, our aim is to learn whether the presence of certain genetic changes in the AQP4 gene are linked to the development of random and hereditary forms of Parkinson’s Disease. Moreover, since it is believed that the glymphatic system works best during sleep, we will measure the role of sleep disturbances in disease features.

What's Involved?

If you are suitable, and agree to undergo this study, we will ask you to attend the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital Research Site premises for a clinical assessment that will last approximately an hour. After this the next part of the study is completed at your home. You will be sent an Actigraph watch (similar to a smart watch) for you to wear at home for 14 days and complete a sleep diary. You will also be asked to complete some online questionnaires and tests.

Am I eligible?

You could be eligible if you fit the below criteria:

Have a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
Aged 18-85
Able to give informed consent
Able to perform tests online

Will I be paid for taking part?

We have a small travel budget to reimburse you and your carer for transportation costs to and from the appointment and for refreshments throughout your visit (up to £25).

How can I take part?

If you are interested in taking part in the study, please contact a member of the team who will be happy to talk through the study in more detail. A Participant Information Sheet will be provided which provides greater detail.

Contact us

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Study (ALS)/ Motor Neurone Disease (MND) -MIND-MAPS-ALS

Molecular Imaging of Neurodegenerative Disease – Mitochondria, Associated Proteins & Synapses – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

What is ALS or Motor Neurone Disease?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Motor Neurone Disease is a rare neurological disease that primarily affects the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement (those muscles we choose to move). Voluntary muscles produce movements like chewing, walking, and talking. The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. Currently, there is no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt or reverse the progression of the disease. The cause of this disease is unknown.

Our research

ALS is the most common type of motor neurone disease. It is a disease that causes the loss of the motor nerve cells that control muscle movement. This causes loss of muscle strength and increasing body weakness. The exact causes of the loss of motor nerve cells are still unknown. We know, however, that several toxic proteins collect in the brains of people with ALS and lead to cell loss. These proteins effect many parts of the cells, especially the mitochondria. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses of cells” and their function is really important in maintaining a healthy nerve cell. Damage to the mitochondria can cause the motor nerve cells to die. We know that one of the steps before the death of the nerve cells, is the loss of synapses in the brain. Synapses are the place where each nerve cell connects with others and these structures permit a nerve cells to pass an electrical or chemical signal to each other.

Positron emission tomography (PET) of the brain is a powerful and safe scanning technique that allows us to assess the role of mitochondria and synaptic function in people with ALS using three different types of PET scan ([18F]BCPP-EF, [11C]SA4503, [11C]UCB-J).

In this study, we aim to use PET scans to evaluate the function of mitochondria and synapses in people with ALS and compare the findings with a group of healthy volunteers. We will also investigate for links between mitochondria and synaptic function and severity of symptoms in people with ALS. Our findings will provide understanding related to the cause of the disease and will help us track its progression over time. Most importantly the findings will help with the discovery of new targets for the development of treatments for ALS.

What's involved?

If you are suitable, and agree to undergo this study, we will ask you to attend the NIHR Imperial Clinical Research Facility and Invicro for clinical and imaging assessments approximately 7 times over a 12 month period. Both sites are located at Hammersmith Campus in West London. Invicro is a Clinical Imaging Centre located at Hammersmith Hospital Campus (Du Cane Road, W12 0NN, London), with established expertise in state-of-the-art molecular imaging techniques. Invicro provides a pleasant environment for the patients and world-class capabilities by bringing together state-of-art equipment and research methodology.

Am I eligible?

You could be eligible if you fit the below criteria:

Have a diagnosis of ALS
25-85 years of age
Able to give informed consent
Can complete visual and auditory assessments
Have no presence or history of other significant neurological or psychiatric disorders

Will I be paid for taking part?

We will arrange and pay for travel, refreshments, and accommodation, if necessary, for you and one carer/companion. We will also offer a sum of £250 per scan/visit (up to £2000), as a remuneration for time-commitment and inconvenience and a further £150 per visit (up to £1200) for your carer/companion.

How can I take part?

If you are interested in taking part in the study, please contact a member of the team who will be happy to talk through the study in more detail. The Patient Information Leaflet can also be found on this webpage which provides greater detail.

Contact us

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) Study

Molecular Imaging of Synaptic Loss in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)

What is Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)?

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare condition of the nervous system that causes gradual damage to nerve cells in the brain. This affects balance, movement and the autonomic nervous system, which controls several basic functions, such as breathing, digestion and bladder control.

Our research

Patients with MSA are found to have a build-up of a protein, called alpha-synuclein, in several areas of their brain. This protein collects close to the brain cells, which provide support and insulation to nerve cells (neurons). The exact way (mechanism) that alpha-synuclein accumulation leads to the gradual breakdown of neurons, causing the symptoms of the disease, is still unclear. However, we know that even before these cells die there is a loss of synapses (the structure which allows brain cells to send messages to other brain cells and across the brain) and a decrease in the metabolism of glucose (sugar), which is used as a measure of brain activity. By use of a special scan, called Positron Emission Tomography (PET), it is possible to determine the loss of synapses (synaptic loss) and the decrease of glucose metabolism. We can do this by the use of very small amounts of radioactive substances called tracers, which are injected through a cannula (tiny tube) into your vein, the tracers attach themselves to specific targets in the brain that we wish to study. Then by using another brain scan called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) it is possible to measure brain structures and the integrity of connections (how well the connections work) between different areas in the brain.

In this study, we aim to use PET imaging specific for measuring synapses and glucose metabolism, to investigate their role in disease progression in people with MSA. We will also use PET imaging to visualize a protein called tau. Tau is a protein which builds up in a number of neurological diseases, particularly in a disorder called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), which is very similar to MSA so that it is difficult to distinguish on the basis of the symptoms alone. We expect that a group of patients with MSA will not show any sign of retention of tau in the brain, whereas we expect the patients with PSP will do. This would help having one means to distinguish these two disorders. We will also use MRI imaging to evaluate the structural and functional changes in the brain in patients with MSA. Furthermore, we will explore the relationship between synaptic loss, glucose metabolism, and clinical features in people with MSA. Our findings will provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes specific for the disease, which will help us track the progression of MSA. More importantly, this study will help with the discovery and development of new medications aiming to delay progression of symptoms caused by MSA.

Furthermore, we will explore the relationship between synaptic loss, glucose metabolism, and clinical features in people with MSA. Our findings will provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes specific for the disease, which will help us track the progression of MSA. More importantly, this study will help with the discovery and development of new medications aiming to delay progression of symptoms caused by MSA.

What's involved?

If you are suitable, and agree to undergo this study, we will ask you to attend the Imperial College Clinical Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, and Invicro London for the clinical and imaging assessments to be undertaken. Taking part will involve up to four (4) visits at the baseline of starting the study and then up to four (4) visits after 12-14 months (follow-up visits).

How can I take part?

If you are interested in taking part in the study, please contact a member of the team who will be happy to talk through the study in more detail. The Participant Information Leaflet MSA can also be found on this webpage which provides greater detail.

Am I eligible?

You could be eligible if you fit the below criteria:

Have a diagnosis of MSA
45-80 years of age
Able to give informed consent

Will I be paid for taking part?

We will be happy to reimburse your travel expenses including any hotel stays as well as booking these on your behalf. We will also pay for all refreshments throughout your visits. Additionally, We will also offer a thank you of £400 after completion of the baseline visits and an additional £400 after completion of the follow-up visits.

Contact us

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)

Molecular Imaging of Synaptic Loss in Multiple System Atrophy

(MSA) and Progressive Supraneclear Palsy (PSP)

What is Progressive Supraneclear Palsy (PSP)

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological disorder that affects body movements, walking and balance, and eye movements. PSP is caused by damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain that control thinking and body movements.

Our research

PSP causes symptoms such as slowness of movement and stiffness, lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, and frequent falls. Patients with neurodegenerative diseases very often display a build-up of proteins, such as alpha-synuclein, tau, and others. Patients with PSP have a build-up of a protein called tau, in several areas of their brain. The exact way (mechanism) by which tau and other proteins accumulation leads to the gradual breakdown of neurons, causing the symptoms of the disease, is still unclear. However, by use of a special scan, called Positron Emission Tomography (PET), it is possible to determine how much of the protein tau is accumulated in the brain. We can do this by the use of very small amounts of radioactive substances called tracers, which are injected through a cannula (tiny tube) into your vein. The tracers attach themselves to the tau protein present in the brain. Then by using another brain scan called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) it is possible to measure brain structures and the integrity of connections (how well the connections work) between different areas in the brain.

In this study, we aim to use PET imaging to measure the retention of tau protein, and to investigate its role in the determination of the symptoms of disease and in its progression in PSP. We will also use MRI imaging to evaluate the structural and functional changes in the brain in patients with PSP. We will compare these results with a group of patients with Multiple System Atrophy, a disease that shares many features with PSP, and with data acquired from a group of healthy people in the same age range. Our findings will provide a deeper understanding of the brain changes specific for the disease, which will help us track the progression of PSP. More importantly, this study will help with the discovery and development of new medications aiming to delay progression of symptoms caused by PSP.

What's involved?

If you are suitable, and agree to undergo this study, we will ask you to attend the Imperial College Clinical Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, and Invicro London for the clinical and imaging assessments to be undertaken. Taking part will involve two (2) visits at the baseline of starting the study and then two (2) visits after 12-14 months (follow-up visits).

How can I take part?

If you are interested in taking part in the study, please contact a member of the team who will be happy to talk through the study in more detail. The Participant Information Leaflet can also be found on this webpage which provides greater detail.

Am I eligible

You could be eligible if you fit the below criteria:

Have a diagnosis of PSP
45-80 years of age
Able to give informed consent

Will I be paid for taking part?

Contact us

Parkinson’s disease clinical trial

To find out more about this clinical trial in Parkinson disease please visit this link:

https://forpatients.roche.com/en/trials/neurodegenerative-disorder/pd/a-phase-1b--adaptive--multi-center--randomized--double-blind--pl.html

If you are interested to take part in this or any of our research studies, please email or call and one of the team would be happy to speak with you.

Email: neuro@exeter.ac.uk
Call: 01392 722935

Want to take part?

If you are interested in our research studies or have any questions or queries, please email or call and one of the team would be happy speak with you.

Email: neuro@exeter.ac.uk
Call: 01392 722935