PARKINSON STUDY GROUP (PSG)?The Parkinson Study Group (PSG) is a non-profit group of physicians and other health care providers from medical centers in the United States and Canada, experienced in the care of Parkinson patients and dedicated to clinical research of Parkinson's Disease. The PSG was formed in 1986, prompted by the recognition that clinical research in Parkinson's Disease (PD) required the participation of large numbers of research patients (subjects) under the cooperative care of skilled and experienced research physicians.
The PSG aims to advance knowledge about the cause(s), disease progression and treatment of PD and related disorders. The PSG is committed to:
What Makes the PSG Unique?
The PSG has carried out cooperative therapeutic research since 1986, beginning with the NIH-sponsored DATATOP (Deprenyl and Tocopheral Antioxidative Therapy of Parkinsonism) clinical trial. Since then we have carried out more than 35 multi-center trials examining the symptomatic and neuroprotective effects of experimental interventions in Parkinson's disease. The PSG has partnered with numerous pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in bringing new drugs for Parkinson's disease to the market including pramipexole, entacapone, rotigotine and rasagiline.
Since our inception, we have actively published all of our research efforts in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals in an effort to make all of our research progress in PD and related disorders available to the public. Our publication list currently includes over 200 abstracts and journal articles.
Where is the PSG and its Members Located?
PSG CENTRAL OFFICE
The PSG central operating office is located at the institution of the chair (Karl Kieburtz, MD, MPH) of the PSG Executive Committee which is currently at:
University of Rochester 1351 Mt. Hope Ave, Suite 223 Rochester, NY 14620 PSG PHYSICIANS (INVESTIGATORS) AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS (COORDINATORS) NETWORK
The core resource of the PSG is a network of experienced investigators, coordinators and consultants from academic/research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the PSG is based on active participation in PSG clinical trials or through active participation on committees or working groups of the PSG.
The PSG now includes more than 400 active investigators, coordinators and scientists from approximately 126 PSG sites located throughout the United States and Canada. Research is conducted at all of these sites in an effort to find new treatments (e.g., medications, surgical procedures) for PD, as well as new ways to diagnose PD and related neurological disorders. Site investigators and coordinators are selected for participation in PSG trials on the basis of their experience and performance in conducting clinical research studies in Parkinson's disease.
How is the PSG Organized?
The PSG is governed by a Constitution and Bylaws and an elected Executive Committee that is primarily responsible for the direction and oversight of its research projects and activities. The PSG Executive Committee currently includes: Karl Kieburtz, MD, MPH (Chair); Karen Marder, MD, MPH (Co-chair); Michael McDermott, PhD, Joel Perlmutter, MD, Bernard Ravina, MD, MSCE; Michael Schwarzschild, MD, PhD, Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD, Cathi-Ann Thomas, MS, RN, CNRN, Daniel Weintraub, MD; G. Frederick Wooten, MD; Ex-officio members: Karen Rabinowitz, JD, Associate Counsel, Roseanna Battista, BS, Administrative Manager, and Donna Moszkowicz, Development and Event Manager.
The PSG Executive Committee oversees all the PSG study steering committees, the Scientific Review Committee, the Mentoring Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Credentials Committee, the Publications Committee, the Standards Committee, the Study Budget Committee, and the Symposia Committee (please see the PSG Standing Committee Members list). The Executive Committee is also responsible for overseeing the PSG working groups (Cognitive/Psychiatric (Behavior), Biomarkers, Genetics and Environmental Risk, Other Non-Motor Features of PD, Functional Neurosurgical and Classic Motor) that are responsible for developing new PSG projects. PSG members interested in joining a working group may contact the Chair of that group directly (please see the PSG Working Group Leadership Teams, updated April 2010.
What is the PSG Scientific Review Committee (SRC)?Outline for Review of Proposals Submitted to the PSG
Prior to submitting any proposal to the PSG, we encourage all investigators to make use of the PSG Working Groups and get assistance, if needed, from the PSG Mentoring Committee.
1. Proposal is submitted to PSG and reviewed by PSG Chair and Co-chair
2. Proposal is assigned a primary and secondary reviewer from the SRC
3. Primary and secondary reviewers submit their review within 30 days of receipt
4. Proposal and reviews are distributed to the SRC
5. SRC rates the proposal using the NIH 9-point scoring system. Individual reviewer scores will be averaged and the result multiplied by 10 to determine the final impact/priority score
(range of 10 to 90)
6. Proposal is approved, approved with criticisms, or not approved
7. Proposals with criticisms are referred to the PSG Executive Committee for follow upSubmissions due 30 days before SRC meeting and responses back to proposing investigator within 30 days of SRC meeting. SRC meets 3x/year, every 4 months.
Submissions Due SRC Meeting in Response Back to PIs by The Procedures for Submission and Review of Proposals is also available in the "PSG Toolkit".
Who serves on the PSG Scientific Review Committee?The current list of committee members includes:
Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD, Chair
The Parkinson’s Institute
675 Almanor Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
(408) 734-2800/Fax: (408) 734-8455
E-mail: ctanner@thepi.orgG. Webster Ross, MD, Co-chair
Pacific Health Research & Education Institute
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
459 Patterson Road (151)
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 433-7785/Fax: (808) 433-0379
Email: george.ross@va.govStatistics:
David Oakes, PhD
University of Rochester
Department of Biostatistics
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 630 MRBX
Rochester, NY 14642
(585) 275-2405/Fax: (585) 273-1031
Email: oakes@bst.rochester.eduYuko Palesch, PhD
Data Coordination Unit (MUSC)
Biostatistics Bioinformatics& Epidemiology
135 Cannon Street, Suite 303
PO Box 250835
Charleston, SC 29425
(843) 876-1917/Fax: (843) 876-1923
Email: paleschy@musc.eduSteven Piantadosi, MD, PhD
Director, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute
8700 Beverly Boulevard, Mezzanine C2002
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 423-8431/Fax: (310) 423-8300
Email: Steven.Piantadosi@csmc.edu
Executive Assistant: Elyce.Larsen@cshs.orgGeneral Clinical:
Marian L. Evatt, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Emory University School of Medicine
1842 Clifton Rd, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404)728-4996 (pvt. line)/(404)728-4952 (Admin.Asst.Pam Best)
Fax: (404)728-4915
Email: mevatt@emory.orgStanley Fahn, MD
Neurological Institute
Columbia University Medical Center
710 W. 168TH Street
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-5295/Fax: (212) 305-3530
E-mail: fahn@neuro.columbia.eduLisa Gauger, BA
Duke University Medical Center
932 Morreene Road Room 238
Duke Health Center at Morreene Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 668-1538/Fax: (919) 681-4935
E-mail: lisa.gauger@duke.eduCarol Moskowitz, ANP, MS
Columbia University Medical Center
710 West 168th Street 3rd Floor, Room 350
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-5779/Fax: (212) 342-1885
E-mail: cbm4@columbia.eduRonald F. Pfeiffer, MD
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Department of Neurology, Link Bldg Rm 415
855 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
(901) 448-6811/Fax: (901) 448-7440
E-mail: rpfeiffer@utmem.eduKelly Lyons, PhD
University of Kansas Medical Center
Department of Neurology, Mail Stop #2012
3599 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160-7314
(913) 588-7159/Fax: (913) 588-6920
E-mail: lyons.kelly@worldnet.att.netBasic Science:
Jeff Bronstein, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurology
Director of Movement Disorders
UCLA School of Medicine
Department of Neurology
710 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 206-9799/Fax: (310) 206-9819
Email: jbronste@ucla.eduGenetics/Genetic Epi:
Tatiana Foroud, PhD
Indiana University School of Medicine
Hereditary Genomics
Health Information and Trans Sciences Bldg
410 W. 10th Street HS4000
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3002
(317) 278-1291/Fax: (317) 278-1100
Email: tforoud@iupui.eduMartha Nance, MD
Park Nicollet Clinic Department of Neurosciences
6490 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite E500
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
(952) 993-1047/Fax: (952) 993-2701
E-mail: nancem@parknicollet.comDavid K. Simon, MD, PhD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Avenue
EC/CLS-638
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 735-2821/Fax: (617) 735-2826
E-mail: dsimon1@bidmc.harvard.eduEpidemiology:
Connie Marras, MD, PhD
Toronto Western Hospital UN Health Network
Movement Disorders Centre
399 Bathurst Street MC 7-402
Toronto, ON M5T 2S8 CANADA
(416) 603-5990/Fax: (416) 603-5004
E-mail: connie.marras@utoronto.caPsychiatry:
Laura Marsh, MD
Johns Hopkins University
Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
600 North Wolfe Street/Phipps 300
Baltimore, MD 21287-7362
(410) 502-6945/ Fax: (410) 614-3676
Email: lmarsh@jhmi.eduMatthew Menza, MD
Professor, Psychiatry & Neurology
Interim Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Rm D205, UBHC
671 Hoes Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08854
(732) 235-4440/Fax: (732) 235-5158
Email: menza@umdnj.eduNeuropsychology:
Peter Como, PhD
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Office of Device Evaluation/Division of Neurological and ENT Devices
10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Building 66
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
Email: peter.como@fda.hhs.gov
Bonnie Levin, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Division of Neuropsychology
Department of Neurology (D4-5)
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
1120 N.W. 14th Street, Room 1337
Miami, FL 33136
(305) 243-7529/Fax: (305) 243-7218
Email: blevin@med.miami.eduNeurosurgery/Surgical Clinical Trials:
Aviva Abosch, MD, PhD
Director, of Epilepsy, Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery
Department of Neurosurgery
University of Minnesota Medical Center
429 Delaware Street SE, MMC 96
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 626-8786/Fax: (612) 624-0644
Email: aabosch@umn.eduWilliam J. Marks, Jr., MD
Director, San Francisco VA Parkinson's Disease Research, Education & Clinical Center
Associate Professor of Neurology
UCSF Medical Center-Mt. Zion
Department of Neurology
Surgical Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic
1635 Divisadero Street, 5th floor Suite #520-530
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 750-2100/Fax: (415) 750-2273
Email:william.marks@ucsf.edu
What is the PSG Mentoring Committee (MC)?The PSG Mentoring Committee (MC) has three main roles.
1. To solicit, review, and select candidates to receive the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation supported mentored clinical research award. This is a major award in support of a project that is a practical training ground for individuals to acquire new skills and expertise in clinical research.
2. To serve as a resource for individuals who need assistance in formulating and developing protocols to the point where they are ready for review by the Scientific Review Committee.
3. To develop and organize innovative programs to promote interest in Parkinson’s disease research, facilitate the development of mentorship relationships, and increase awareness of resources within the PSG that can provide opportunities for initiating research efforts.A new initiative of the committee is the PSG Advisor Program. This was implemented in July 2009 and was developed to help new investigators find a local mentor or specific research funding sources for their research. For more information or to apply, read more...
Who Serves on the PSG Mentoring Committee (MC)?The current list of committee members includes:
Joel Perlmutter, MD, Chair
Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Neurology
660 South Euclid, Box 8111
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-6026/Fax: (314) 362-0168
Email: joel@npg.wustl.eduA. Jon Stoessl, CM, MD, Co-chair
Professor and Acting Head, Neurology
Director, Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre
& National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence
Canada Research Chair - Parkinson's Disease
University of British Columbia
2221 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC, CANADA V6T 2B5
(604) 822-7967; Fax: (604) 822-7866
Email: jstoessl@interchange.ubc.caAlberto Ascherio, MD, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at
Harvard School of Public Health and
Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School
655 Huntington Avenue, Building II, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 432-0093
Email: aascheri@hsph.harvard.eduJames T. Boyd, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of Vermont, Department of Neurology
89 Beaumont Avenue
Burlington, VT 05405
Email: james.boyd@vtmednet.orgJennifer G. Goldman, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Section of Movement Disorders
Department of Neurological Sciences
Rush University Medical Center
1725 W. Harrison St., Suite 755
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 563-2900; Fax: (312) 563-2024
Cindy Lawler, PhD
Science Administrator
NIEHS
PO Box 12233, MD EC-23
111 TW Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
(919) 316-4671; Fax: (919) 541-5064
Email: lawler@niehs.nih.gov
Michael McDermott, PhD
University of Rochester
Department of Biostatistics
601 Elmwood Avenue Box 630
Rochester, NY 14642
(585) 275-6685; Fax: (585) 273-1031
Email: mikem@bst.rochester.eduAmie Peterson, MD
Movement Disorders Fellow
Oregon Health & Science University
Department of Neurology
3181 S. W. Sam Jackson Road
Portland, Oregon 97239-3098
(503) 494-7231/Fax: (503 494-9059
Email: peterami@ohsu.eduGregory Pontone, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
(410) 502-0477/Fax: (410) 614-3676
Email: gponton1@jhmi.eduFredy J. Revilla, M.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology
Head, Division of Movement Disorders
University of Cincinnati
260 Stetson Street, Suite 2300
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0525
(513) 558-6503/Fax: (513) 558-0412
Email: fredy.revilla@uc.eduCynthia Comella, MD (Advisor Program)
Rush University Medical Center
Department of Neurological Sciences
1725 West Harrison, Suite 755
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 563-2900/Fax: (312) 563-2684
Email: ccomella@rush.eduCoordination Centers
The Clinical Trials Coordination Center (CTCC) at the University of Rochester is a credentialed PSG Coordination Center, responsible for coordination of research activities and data management for most PSG clinical trials. The CTCC is directed by Cindy Casaceli, MBA. About 75 staff members, including postdoctoral fellows in experimental therapeutics, are involved in the implementation of study protocols, site communications, and data management. Right now, the CTCC is the only PSG credentialed Coordination Center, but pursuant to a recent amendment to the PSG Constitution and Bylaws, other Coordination Centers, if credentialed by the PSG, may also be utilized for PSG studies.Biostatistics CenterS
The Biostatistics Center of the University of Rochester is a credentialed PSG Biostatistics Center, comprised of individuals from the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. David Oakes, PhD and Michael McDermott, PhD have served as chief biostatisticians for most PSG trials. Faculty members, with assistance from a highly capable staff of programmers and research associates, are responsible for the analysis of data from PSG studies. Like the Clinical Trials Coordination Center, the Biostatistics Center participates in the training of pre- and postdoctoral students interested in controlled clinical trials.
The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) is also a credentialed PSG Biostatistics Center. The HSPH Center is a collaboration among the HSPH Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and the Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center. Rebecca Betensky, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, and Alberto Ascherio, MD DrPH, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, are the chief biostatisticians for the HSPH Center. Dr. Betensky is the lead biostatistician for the SURE-PD trial and serves on the SURE-PD Steering Committee while Dr. Ascherio is Co-PI of the SURE-PD Trial and is the PI of the SURE-PD Biostatistics Core. Eric Macklin, PhD, Assistant in Biostatistcs at MGH, is the staff biostatistician for SURE-PD. Additional faculty and staff at the collaborating departments are also available for consultation on study design, data analysis, and programming.
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