We have new studies currently recruiting participants! Please see the information below and join us to help move the understanding of dystonia forward! 

NOW RECRUITING: Brain-Computer Interfaces for the Treatment of Laryngeal Dystonia

Patients with laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia)

We are conducting a randomized, sham-controlled, parallel design, phase 1 clinical trial (NCT04421365) to assess the feasibility and efficacy of novel neurofeedback brain-computer interface (BCI) treatment in patients with laryngeal dystonia. You are invited to participate in this clinical trial if you have laryngeal dystonia. This study includes the therapeutic BCI intervention, an MRI of the brain, a completion of clinical and behavioral assessments. Funding for this study is provided by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), R01DC019353 grant. All research procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Mass General Brigham.

NOW RECRUITING: Imaging Genetics of Laryngeal Dystonia

Patients with a familial form of laryngeal dystonia

Unaffected relatives of patients with laryngeal dystonia

Patients with voice tremor

Patients with muscle tension dysphonia 

We are conducting a series of studies to understand the brain and genetic mechanisms of developing laryngeal dystonia and other related disorders (voice tremor and muscle tension dysphonia), which will help identify the neural markers that determine the predictive risk of developing these disorders. You are invited to participate in this study if you have laryngeal dystonia, voice tremor, muscle tension dysphonia or are an unaffected relative of a patient with laryngeal dystonia. This study includes the an MRI of the brain, a completion of clinical and behavioral assessments, and a blood draw for genetic studies.  Funding for this study is provided by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), R01DC011805 grant. All research procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Mass General Brigham.

NOW RECRUITING: Understanding Disorder-Specific Neural Pathophysiology in Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor

Patients with laryngeal dystonia

Patients with voice tremor

Healthy volunteers

We are conducting studies to better understand the brain alterations in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor. You are invited to participate in this study if you have laryngeal dystonia, voice tremor, or are a healthy volunteer. This study includes the an MRI and EEG of the brain, a completion of clinical and behavioral assessments, and a blood draw for genetic studies.  Funding for this study is provided by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), P50DC019900 grant. All research procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Mass General Brigham.

INITIAL STUDY CONTACT AND INFORMATION FOR ALL ONGOING STUDIES 

To obtain detailed information about the study and your eligibility for participation, please contact us by phone (617) 573-6016 or e-mail Simonyan_Lab@meei.harvard.edu. The preliminary screening will take approximately 20 minutes of your time. If you are eligible for the study participation, we will schedule your visit with our research team at your convenience. Upon the study completion, your out-of-town and/or local travel expenses associated with the study participation will be reimbursed, and you will receive a compensation for your time and efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering For Research Studies

Why should I consider volunteering for a research study?

It is simple! A research study could not proceed without research volunteers. Although you may not receive direct benefits from study participation, we will gather invaluable information about how your brain is organized and functions. This information may be compared between individuals in different populations, for example, healthy subjects and patients with dystonia. The research studies give us knowledge that may help people in the future.

Who may participate in our current research studies?

We are actively recruiting patients with dystonia and healthy research volunteers for the studies listed above.

What are the procedures involved with the participation in a research study?

Once you contact us, we will explain the details of the study and ask several questions to determine whether you meet the study eligibility criteria. If you qualify for participation, we will schedule your visit with us. During your visit, we will go over the study procedures in greater detail and obtain your written consent. Depending on the specific study procedures, we may acquire detailed information about your medical and family history, record your voice and speech, and administer tests to examine your general development, memory, handedness, sensory perception, and cognitive skills. We may also ask you to donate a small amount of blood for genetic testing. If you meet the study criteria, we may ask you to participate in the study involving a new investigational drug. We may also ask you to undergo an MRI, during which you will need to lie still for some time, as well as perform different tasks, for example, sentence production or finger tapping.

Please keep in mind that your participation in research studies is entirely voluntary. You may choose not to participate. If you decide to participate in the research study, you may withdraw at any time without penalty.

Is MRI invasive and does it use radiation?

No! Unlike X-ray, CT, and PET scans, MRIs do not use ionizing radiation and is considered a non-invasive procedure. Instead, MRIs use a strong magnetic field and radio waves to take pictures of your brain. The MRI scanner is a metal cylinder surrounded by a strong magnetic field. During the MRI, you will lie on a table that can slide in and out of the cylinder. While in the scanner, you will hear a loud knocking noise, for which you will be fitted with earplugs or earmuffs to muffle the sound. You will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during your scan, and you may ask to be removed from the machine at any time.

People are at risk for injury from the MRI magnet if they have pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips (metal clips on the wall of a large artery), metallic prostheses (including metal pins and rods, heart valves, and cochlear implants), permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pump, or shrapnel fragments. Welders and metal workers are also at risk for injury because of possible small metal fragments in the eye, of which they might be unaware. You will be screened for these conditions before having an MRI scan, and if you have any, you will not receive a scan. If you have a question about any metal objects being present in your body, you should inform our staff.

In addition, all magnetic objects (watches, coins, jewelry, credit cards, etc.) must be removed before entering the MRI scan room. It is not known if MRI is completely safe for a developing fetus. Therefore, all women of childbearing potential will have a pregnancy test performed no more than 24 hours before the MRI scan. The scan will not be done if the pregnancy test is positive.

Will I receive the study results?

It depends. We will inform you if any significant abnormalities are identified as a result of any tests in the study and we will refer you for follow-up clinical care. We will inform female participants of the results of pregnancy testing. We will, however, not inform you of our research findings, including genetic testing, until the study is complete. At the study completion and publication of research findings, we will send a letter describing our findings to all participants.

Will I be reimbursed for my time and effort?

Yes! You will be reimbursed for your time and effort according to the research protocol’s guidelines. If you are an out-of-town patient who is eligible and participates in the study, your research-related travel expenses will be reimbursed, pending approval.