Get involved: Open Biobank and Clinical Trials

What is the Open Biobank (C-BIG Repository)? 

The Neuro’s Open Biobank (known as the C-BIG Repository) is a unique collection of biological samples, clinical information, imaging, and genetic data from patients with neurological diseases and from healthy donors.

Upon informed consent and determined eligibility, participants of the C-BIG Repository may be asked to provide one or more of the following sample types, depending on their condition:

• Biological Material
• Clinical Data
• Radiological Data
• Study Results. 

Following the principles of Open Science, the samples are shared with researchers around the world in an ethical way to help them study the underlying causes of neurological diseases and speed up the discovery and improvement of treatments for patients. 

How to get involved 

Choosing to donate sample(s) to the Open C-BIG Repository is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor, family members, or friends about deciding to donate.

If you are a patient or a healthy participant interested in taking part, contact cbig.mni [at] mcgill.ca for more info.

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials aim to answer scientific questions and find the best ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat people living with neurological diseases and conditions.

The Neuro's Clinical Research Unit (CRU) carries out trials related to the study of the brain including (but not limited to):

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 
• Brain Tumour
• Movement Disorders
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neurological Pain Syndromes
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Rare Genetic Diseases
• Stroke and Spine Disorders.

The CRU conducts Phase 1 to 4-type clinical trials, including: 

1. A treatment is given to a small group of participants to evaluate the most frequent and serious side effects and to study different dosages of the treatment. These trials often involve participants that are healthy.
2. A treatment is given to a larger group of people to establish efficacy and continue evaluating safety. Participants in these clinical trials are often randomly chosen to receive either the experimental treatment or standard of care/placebo.
3. A treatment is given to a very large number of participants to confirm the efficacy of study drug. Participants in these clinical trials are often randomly chosen to receive either the experimental treatment or standard of care/placebo.
4. When a treatment is widely available, these clinical studies will evaluate the risks and advantages of using the treatment or device over a long period of time.

How to sign up 

Choosing to take part in a clinical trial is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor, family members, or friends about deciding to join a trial.

If you are a patient or a healthy participant interested in taking part in a clinical trial, learn more about current recruiting studies in the following research areas: 

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Alzheimer's (Dementia)
• Brain Tumour
• Epilepsy
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Migraine
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 
• Neuromuscular
• Neurosurgery
• Parkinson's (Movement Disorders)
• Stroke (Neurovascular)

Once you find one or more studies that you are interested in, contact the CRU Manager at info-CRU.neuro [at] mcgill.ca for more info.