Neurodegenerative Diseases
Providing a patient-first perspective to advance research.
Discover Fortrea’s specialist capabilities in neurodegenerative clinical trials. Explore our unique patient and caregiver perspectives, site partnerships and scientific experience.
Patient-centric design
Reduce burden and enable early engagement with patient advocacy groups and caregivers to refine study design, boost retention and meet patients’ needs.
Biomarker innovation
From fit for phase endpoints to digital monitoring of disease progression, our biomarker strategy is grounded in regulatory pathways and validation roadmaps to help advance your study.
Agile delivery
Our global site‑centric operations minimize burden, reduce whitespace and support compliance, drawing on a network of 13,000+ existing site relationships and unified operations.
Specialized capabilities to expedite delivery
Neurodegenerative clinical trials demand precision and empathy. That’s why our team at Fortrea puts the voices of patients, families and caregivers at the center of our trials, as they navigate the realities of these debilitating neurodegenerative conditions. Their stories drive our mission and shape every trial we support.
With over 20 years of hands-on experience in complex neurodegenerative studies, our neuroscience team brings proven best practices and a relentless commitment to patient-centricity. We recognize the unique challenges—cultural attitudes, study burden and the need for clear, compassionate education—to address and reshape today’s clinical trials.
Behind every Alzheimer’s Disease trial is a story
Our dedication to Alzheimer’s disease
Work with a unified, elite neuroscience team with over 30 years of therapeutic leadership. We combine depth of academic excellence with an agile approach to real-world drug development experience.
Patient Centricity
Patient centricity is core to our methodology. We engage and collaborate with patients and advocacy groups to drive optimally designed protocols and design patient materials to support recruitment.
Digital Health Innovations (DHI)
We integrate approaches that minimize the impact on Alzheimer’s disease patients’ lives, removing barriers to participation and increasing trial access, patient recruitment, engagement and retention.
Cell and Gene therapy opportunities in Alzheimer’s Disease
Delivering complex cell and gene therapy trials for Alzheimer’s disease requires deep experience and specialized capabilities. Framed by Carole Stark’s personal story and hope for future generations, the video highlights how innovative neuroscience research is helping shape a future where Alzheimer’s may no longer be a one way journey.
The Stark’s Story
Carole and Hank Stark share their emotional journey through Alzheimer’s disease, from the fear and isolation of early symptoms to the hope they found through joining a clinical trial. Their story highlights how research offered not only support for Carole, but renewed optimism for their children and future generations.
Site-CRO relationships
Fortrea’s strong, collaborative site relationships are at the heart of successful Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials. By collaborating closely with investigators, incorporating real world insights into protocol design, and maintaining consistent communication, Fortrea provides high quality delivery while supporting patients.
Advancing research in Alzheimer’s disease
From first-in-human Alzheimer’s studies to navigating Phase III trials, we’re committed to advancing the complex clinical trial landscape of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
We apply patient- and site-centric approaches to enable effective enrollment and foster productive relationships between the site and patients, reducing the participation burden and increasing the value of your neuroscience study.
Incorporating patient-centric innovation in Multiple Sclerosis research
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) trials present unique challenges with high patient burden from lengthy protocols, functional limitations in traditional mobility assessments and quality-of-life concerns that impact engagement.
To reduce burden and enrich data, we combine flexible protocol design with digital health integration, incorporate the Voice of the Patient and conduct pre-study “dry runs” to create practical and comfortable procedures.
Electronic patient-reported outcomes(PROs) further minimize site visits, allowing remote data capture without compromising quality. Our game-changing insights and innovations have delivered measurable impact with high retention rates up to 80%, Last Patient In ahead of schedule and exceptional compliance with questionnaires and endpoints.
Addressing the challenges of Parkinson’s disease research
Parkinson's disease (PD) can present challenges for clinical researchers. Its heterogeneous progression, fluctuating symptoms and the subjective nature of traditional clinical assessments create significant obstacles in trial design and patient selection.
Whether we are helping you recruit and evaluate your investigational drug in Phase I, supporting your Phase III trial, incorporating digital endpoints or implementing strategic imaging and AI approaches, we know to help you navigate the rapidly transforming landscape of PD trials.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the latest advancements in neurodegenerative disease research?
Neurodegenerative disease research is advancing rapidly through innovations in precision medicine, biomarker development, gene-targeted therapies and disease-modifying treatments. Researchers are also incorporating digital health technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced imaging techniques to improve diagnosis, patient stratification and clinical trial efficiency. Ongoing clinical trials continue to evaluate therapies across a range of neurodegenerative disorders, with an increasing focus on earlier intervention and personalized treatment approaches.
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Why are biomarkers important in neurodegenerative disease clinical trials?
Biomarkers play an increasingly important role in neurodegenerative disease clinical trials by helping identify appropriate patient populations, monitor disease progression and evaluate treatment response. Imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood-based biomarkers and genetic markers can support earlier diagnosis, improve participant selection, and provide objective measures alongside traditional clinical endpoints. As precision medicine advances, a biomarker strategy for neurodegenerative diseases is becoming an integral component of many clinical development programs.
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How can patient-centric trial design improve recruitment and retention in neurodegenerative disease studies?
Patient-centric trial design can help improve recruitment and retention by reducing the physical, logistical and emotional burden associated with study participation. Strategies such as flexible scheduling, decentralized or hybrid visits, digital assessments, travel support, and simplified protocols can make participation more accessible for both patients and caregivers. Designing studies around the needs of participants can improve enrollment, encourage long-term engagement and enhance data completeness in neurodegenerative clinical trials.
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What considerations are important for Alzheimer's disease clinical trials?
Alzheimer's disease clinical trials require careful consideration of disease stage, patient selection, endpoint sensitivity, biomarker use and long-term follow-up. Because cognitive decline occurs gradually, studies often require extended treatment periods and validated cognitive, functional and quality-of-life assessments to demonstrate meaningful clinical benefit. Recruitment strategies, caregiver involvement, and evolving regulatory expectations also play important roles in successful study design.
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Are there any new research developments in Alzheimer's disease?
Recent Alzheimer's disease research has led to significant advances in understanding disease biology, particularly the role of amyloid, tau, neuroinflammation and genetic risk factors. Clinical studies are evaluating disease-modifying therapies, blood-based biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and digital tools to detect subtle cognitive changes. Researchers are also exploring combination therapies and interventions aimed at slowing disease progression in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease.
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What are the latest developments in Parkinson's disease research?
Parkinson's disease research continues to expand beyond symptomatic management toward therapies that may slow or modify disease progression. Current clinical trials are investigating gene therapies, cell-based therapies, neuroprotective agents, alpha-synuclein-targeted treatments and precision medicine approaches. Advances in wearable technologies, digital biomarkers and remote patient monitoring are also helping researchers better measure disease progression and treatment response while supporting more patient-centered clinical trial designs.
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What should sponsors consider when selecting a CRO for neurodegenerative disease clinical trials?
Sponsors should look for experience with the unique operational and scientific challenges of neurodegenerative disease research, including complex patient populations, specialized cognitive and functional assessments, biomarker integration and long-term study management. Experience with decentralized trial components, digital endpoints, global site networks, patient recruitment, caregiver engagement and regulatory requirements can also be important considerations when evaluating a clinical research collaborator.
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What role do caregivers play in neurodegenerative disease clinical trials?
Caregivers are often essential participants in neurodegenerative disease clinical trials, particularly for conditions that affect cognition, memory or daily functioning. They frequently assist with study visits, medication adherence, symptom reporting and completion of patient assessments while providing valuable insights into functional changes and quality of life. Recognizing and supporting the caregiver's role can help improve participant retention, protocol compliance and the overall study experience.
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What are the latest treatments for Alzheimer's disease?
Recent treatment advances for Alzheimer's disease include therapies designed to target the underlying biology of the disease, alongside symptomatic treatments that help manage cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Disease-modifying therapies targeting amyloid pathology have expanded treatment options for certain patients, while numerous investigational therapies targeting specific pathways continue to be evaluated in clinical trials. Ongoing research is focused on improving long-term outcomes through earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment strategies.