The NS-PARK/F-CRIN network is a multidisciplinary research network of excellence that brings together neurologists and researchers specializing in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders throughout France. It currently comprises 36 academic centers, including the 25 “Parkinson’s Expert” centers accredited by the Ministry of Health. Its strong patient recruitment capabilities, the training of its teams, and the affiliation of some of its centers with clinical research centers ensure the conduct of high-quality studies.
NS-PARK, the clinical research network on Parkinson's disease and movement disorders
The NS-PARK network was formed in 2013 through the merger of three previously existing national research networks: the Neurosciences Network of Clinical Investigation Centers, the Parkinson’s Disease Genetics Network, and the France Stim Network dedicated to deep brain stimulation. This merger brought together France’s collective expertise in the various fields of Parkinson’s disease research.
Since 2014, the NS-PARK network has benefited from a designation and funding from the national clinical research infrastructure F-CRIN which has enabled it to expand its scope of expertise and activities.
Initially, the NS-PARK network’s activities were primarily focused on conducting clinical trials. In recent years, the network has been involved in studies aimed at identifying and testing new therapeutic targets and potential new drugs, as well as in studies designed toevaluate drugs already on the market for new indications related to Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. The studies conducted within the network focus on neuroprotection, motor symptoms, motor complications, and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, genetics, as well as other parkinsonian syndromes such as multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Organization
The NS-PARK network currently comprises 36 academic centers, including the 25 Parkinson's Expert Centers accredited by the Ministry of Health.
Scientific Expertise
The particularly rich scientific activity of the NS-PARK network demonstrates its dynamism and its importance for research at the national and international levels.
Today, one of the major challenges is to deepen our understanding of the links between disease progression patterns and the underlying biological mechanisms, which will enable the development of targeted therapeutic strategies based on patient profiles and thus move toward personalized medicine. With this in mind, the NS-PARK network has devoted considerable effort in recent years to developing the NS-PARK national cohort, shared by all centers in the network, thanks to financial support from F-CRIN and the Neurodegenerative Diseases Plan (Ministry of Health). This cohort is unparalleled and will be a powerful research tool in the years to come.
Expertise in Pathology Research
- Imaging
- Biology
- Pathophysiology,
- Epidemiology,
- Comorbidities
- Biomarkers, new therapeutic targets
- Drug intolerance
- Environmental impact (allergies) and societal consequences
Clinical Research Expertise
- Compliance with Good Clinical Practice
- Experience as affiliated centers or sponsors: single-center/multicenter, multinational, randomized, controlled trials
- Operational support for the centers’ clinical research teams (clinical research departments within hospital facilities)
- Contribution to the creation of registries and biobanks
Completed Projects and Notable Results
Each year, the network contributes to tangible advances in clinical research, with several studies completed. Here are a few examples:
A total of 156 participants were included, with 78 assigned to each group. Baseline MDS-UPDRS Part III scores were approximately 15 in both groups.
At 12 months, the MDS-UPDRS Part III scores had changed by −0.04 points (indicating an improvement) in the lixisenatide group, and by 3.04 points (indicating a worsening of disability) in the placebo group → difference: 3.08; 95% confidence interval: 0.86 to 5.30; P = 0.007.
At 14 months, following a 2-month washout period, the MDS-UPDRS motor scores in the off-medication state were:
- 17.7 (95% CI, 15.7 to 19.7) with lixisenatide
- 20.6 (95% CI, 18.5 to 22.8) with placebo
The other results regarding the secondary endpoints did not differ substantially between the groups.
Nausea occurred in 46% of participants receiving lixisenatide, and vomiting in 13%.
Conclusions:
In participants with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, treatment with lixisenatide resulted in a slower progression of motor disability than placebo at 12 months in this Phase 2 trial, but was associated with gastrointestinal adverse events
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Conclusions:
In this Phase 2 trial, treatment with lixisenatide resulted in a slower progression of motor disability than placebo at 12 months in participants with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, but was associated with gastrointestinal adverse events
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Longer and larger trials are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of lixisenatide in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Link to the publication: Trial of Lixisenatide in Early Parkinson’s Disease | New England Journal of Medicine
Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are commonly observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The NS-PARK network therefore sought to determine whether clonidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, could improve ICDs.
The network conducted a multicenter trial at five centers specializing in movement disorders. Patients with PD and ICDs (n = 41) were enrolled in an 8-week randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating clonidine (75 μg twice daily).
Randomization and group assignment were performed using a centralized computer system.
The primary endpoint was the change at 8 weeks in symptom severity as measured by the QUIP-RS (Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease – Rating Scale). A reduction of more than 3 points in the highest subscore of the QUIP-RS, without an increase in the other dimensions, was defined as success.
Conclusions:
Between May 15, 2019 and September 10, 2021, 19 patients were enrolled in the clonidine group and 20 in the placebo group.
The difference in the proportion of success at 8 weeks was 7% (unilateral upper limit of the 90% CI: 27%):
- 42.1% success rate in the clonidine group
- 35.0% in the placebo group
Compared to patients in the placebo group, those in the clonidine group showed a greater reduction in the QUIP-RS total score at 8 weeks:
- 11.0 points with clonidine
- 3.6 points with placebo
Link to the publication: Efficacy and Safety of Clonidine for the Treatment of Impulse Control Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease: A Multicenter, Parallel, randomized, double-blind, Phase 2b clinical trial - PMC
Current Projects
The network is currently involved in several multicenter studies aimed at advancing clinical knowledge and practice, including:
- PREVENT ICD - Dr. Louise Laure Mariani
- Use of an ICD prediction algorithm in the management of patients with Parkinson’s disease
- A randomized, two-arm, parallel-group therapeutic trial comparing apomorphine pump monotherapy versus combination therapy. Principal Investigator: Prof. Ana Marques, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital.
Several industry-sponsored studies: ROCHE PARAISO, NOVARTIS NI0752, LUNDBECK – Lu AF28996, VANQUA – VQ 101-201.
Contact the network
To learn more about the network, visit their website: NS-Park | National Clinical Research Network on Parkinson’s Disease
Or feel free to contact the network’s project leaders: Nacim Miri (Nacim.miri@inserm.fr) and Fatma Khelifi (Fatma.khelifi@inserm.fr)
