Bayesian Optimization of DBS for Gait (BOG DBS)

September 25, 2026 updated by: University of Minnesota

This project aims to establish the feasibility of Bayesian optimization for tuning deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat gait symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Our primary question is: Can Bayesian optimization of DBS achieve reproducible results within a feasible number of gait measurements? PD patients will be enrolled who have DBS of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus (GP) in whom at least 3 months have passed since activation of their neurostimulators, for stabilization of clinical stimulator settings. We will apply Bayesian optimization to derive DBS settings which maximally lengthen step length relative to the OFF DBS state.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Patients will undergo on-label DBS for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, at stimulator settings different from their usual settings, but within the FDA-approved range for this indication, based on the output of the Bayesian optimization algorithm. Test settings will be evaluated by a brief period of walking on a treadmill which captures measurements of step length. The resulting step length will be provided to the algorithm to inform the next recommended test setting. This will be repeated approximately 30 times to reach putatively optimal DBS settings.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

15

Phase

  • Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
        • Recruiting
        • University of Minnesota
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Scott Cooper, MD, PhD
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
  • DBS in STN or GP (bilateral or unilateral)
  • At least 3 months after lead implantation

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to walk in the off-med, off-stimulation condition (even with safety harness)
  • Gait impaired significantly by a condition other than PD, as determined by the PI
  • Breaks or shorts in active contacts
  • IPG battery nearing end of life (in patients with primary-cell IPGs)
  • Females who are nursing or pregnant
  • Diminished capacity to consent (concluded via UBACC)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: All participants

All participants will be allocated to this group for DBS stimulation within FDA-approved limits and labeling for symptoms of PD.
Other: Deep Brain Stimulation

DBS within FDA-approved limits and labeling for symptoms of PD

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gait Test
Time Frame: This will be repeated approximately 30 times throughout the study visit (Day 1) on various DBS settings to reach putatively optimal DBS settings.

Subjects walk for one minute each on a treadmill set to match their individual overground walking speed. A forceplate measures the center of pressure trajectory from which integral software detects time and location of heel-strike and toe-off events. These events, and the treadmill speed, are used to compute step lengths.
This will be repeated approximately 30 times throughout the study visit (Day 1) on various DBS settings to reach putatively optimal DBS settings.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Minnesota

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Scott Cooper, MD, PhD, University of Minnesota

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2031

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2033

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 25, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NEUR-2026-34549

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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