An observational study in Parkinson Disease, sponsored by Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Recruiting at 12 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-27.
Sponsored by Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research · Observational
BLAAC PD is a research study to understand what Parkinson's disease looks like for Black and African American communities.
BLAAC PD is happening at research centers around the United States. The study is part of the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2). GP2 is a research project working to transform understanding of the genetics of Parkinson's disease and make that knowledge globally relevant.
Research studies have found connections between genes and Parkinson's disease (PD). But those results have mostly come from studies with non-Black or African American volunteers. BLAAC PD aims to learn more about gene changes that may cause Parkinson's in Black and African American people. Study volunteers at sites across the United States will attend one visit and will give either a blood or saliva sample, complete a smell test, and may be asked to complete a physical exam. This new data could lead to future Parkinson's tests and treatments for Black and African American people and it may help better understand disease in other groups, too.
This pioneering initiative will fill a gap of knowledge about PD in Black and African American people.
4,573 studies on the registry are indexed under Parkinson Disease; 1,086 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 2,000 is above the median of 96 across 1,085 observational studies indexed under Parkinson Disease.
Browse Parkinson Disease studies →Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is the lead sponsor of 16 studies on the registry; 7 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Black Americans and African Americans with Parkinson's Disease or without a history of Parkinson's (control volunteers).
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria for Control Participants:
Inclusion Criteria for Participants with a Diagnosis of PD:
Exclusion Criteria for Participants with a Diagnosis of PD:
- If submitting a saliva sample, nothing by mouth (food, drink, gum, tobacco, or smoking) for 30 minutes prior to sample collection
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Data collected from these participants include demographic information and family health history. Participants may also complete a physical exam. Participants also complete a smell test and contribute a blood or saliva sample for genetic analyses.
Data collected from these participants include demographic information and family health history. Participants also complete a smell test and contribute a blood or saliva sample for genetic analyses.
Explore novel risk factors and characterization
To explore novel risk factors and characterization of known genetic risk factors contributing to Parkinson's disease risk in the Black and African American population.
Time frame: 5 years
Not enrolling at this site.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research