Clinical Trials
While the RLS Foundation does not conduct clinical trials, we do list clinical trial opportunities below and in our quarterly member magazine, NightWalkers. If you are interested in participating in a study, please contact the researcher listed below. Clinical trials are research studies that enlist volunteers to investigate specific health questions. When carefully conducted, they are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that actually work for people. When you volunteer for an RLS clinical trial, you explore emerging treatment options for yourself while actively contributing to the advancement of RLS research. If you are a researcher who would like to include your study in our listings, please contact us at info@rls.org. All studies must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to qualify. There is no charge to publish a listing. In accordance with our corporate relations policy, the RLS Foundation does not endorse or sponsor any products or services.
Open Label Trial of Pitolisant as Adjunct Therapy for RLS
Dr. William Ondo at Houston Methodist Hospital, is conducting a study on a medicine called pitolisant, which is a histamine-3 inverse agonist and is currently used to treat narcolepsy. He is recruiting patients who are taking RLS medicines but do not have satisfactory response. In this study everyone will receive the active medicine.
Contact: Shivani Desai, BS, (713) 363-8390
Email: sdesai5@houstonmethodist.org
Full Clinical Trial Details
Open Label and Placebo Controlled Trial of Sublingual Apomorphine for Refractory RLS
Dr. William Ondo at Houston Methodist Hospital, is conducting a study on apomorphine, a filmstrip placed under the tongue used for Parkinson’s disease. It is not an opioid and is considered fairly powerful and fast acting.
Contact: Shivani Desai, BS, (713) 363-8390
Email: sdesai5@houstonmethodist.org
Full Clinical Trial Details
JULY 2022
Insomnia after RLS is Under Control
Many people continue to experience insomnia even though their RLS is under good control. John W. Winkelman, MD, PhD, with the Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), is conducting a research study, performed virtually by video and/or phone, investigating the efficacy of an FDA-approved sleep medication (suvorexant, Belsomra) for the treatment of such people.
Contact: Jordana Zackon at 617-643-6026 or jzackon@mgh.harvard.edu
Full Clinical Trial Details
March 2020
Understanding the Role of Epigenetics in RLS
Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, led by Christopher J Earley MB,BCh, PhD, are conducting a study designed to address the question of why does RLS have such a high inheritance risk. If you are a woman who currently has iron deficiency anemia then you may be eligible for this study. We are looking for women who do and do not (control group) have RLS symptoms.
Contact: Jessica at 410-550-1046
Full Clinical Trial Details
March 2020
Intravenous Iron Therapy in Patients with Anemia and RLS
Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, led by Christopher J Earley MB,BCh, PhD, are conducting a a clinical trial to establish the effectiveness of intravenous iron in treating patients who have an anemia and who also have RLS symptoms. If you currently have an iron deficiency anemia and have frequent RLS symptoms then you may be eligible for this clinical trial.
Contact: Jessica at 410-550-1046
Full Clinical Trial Details
December 2019
Hormones and Their Role in Restless Legs Syndrome
Researchers at Yale University are conducting research to determine whether specific stress hormone levels are increased in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of persons with RLS. This study requires a one-time visit to New Haven, Connecticut, you will be reimbursed for the COST OF YOUR TRAVEL (up to $600).
Contact: Your first contact can be via email to Brian Koo, MD at brian.koo@yale.edu or call (203) 785-4261
Full Clinical Trial Details
RLS & My Teen: What’s Next? — Fight RLS with Science
Find out about a study that’s for adolescents age 13-17 dealing with RLS. Compensation available.
Visit: www.science37.net/rls-teens
Call: (310) 464-2190
Email: RLSstudy@science37.com
Full Clinical Trial Details
January 2013
Determining whether there are changes in the retinal structure of the eyes of individuals with RLS compared to individuals with Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, and healthy controls.
New York University Langone Medical Center
Contact: Dr. Jose Martinez, Jose.Martinez@nyumc.org
Full Clinical Trial Details
Further Reading
RLS Research Opportunities
Inside: Information about brain donation, clinical trial participation and where to find them.
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