Research

Essential Tremor Research

James Parkinson first distinguished essential tremor from other tremor disorders (including the disease that carries his namesake) in 1817. More than 200 years later, there are still many unanswered questions about essential tremor. However, researchers are moving our knowledge forward. It is vital to understand what causes ET in order to develop tailored treatment options and a cure for this life-altering condition. 

IETF Funded Research
Essential tremor (ET) has no cure. And since there is no medication specifically designed for ET, people struggle to find effective treatment options. Some feel like any and all medications are thrown at them in an attempt to find something that might work — anything that might work.

If only we understood the cause of ET, then new, tailored treatments could be developed. Cutting-edge researchers are ready to search for not only new but smarter treatment options in hopes of making even the simplest of life’s tasks easy again.

Each year researchers with an interest in studying the various aspects of essential tremor are encouraged to submit scientific proposals for grant funding from the IETF. To date, your research donations have provided more than $975,000 to fund numerous promising studies.

Your research donation could make the difference between critical research being funded, or being turned away. Every donation, no matter the size, counts. Help us keep research moving forward!

Funded Research Articles

Characterizing the Transcriptomic Landscapes of Essential Tremor
August 17, 2022

IETF Funded Research

Principal Investigator:Dr. Guy Rouleau, OC, OQ, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FRSCDirector, The NeuroChair, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University PROJECT SUMMARY Specific aims: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting nearly 1% of the worldwide population. It causes uncontrollable shaking of multiple body parts including the hands, arms, head and […]

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Flumazenil as Potential Therapy for Essential Tremor
June 28, 2021

IETF Funded Research

Principal Investigator: Adrian Handforth, MD, assistant chief of neurology at Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System PROJECT SUMMARY A barrier to finding new medications for essential tremor (ET) has been the identification of molecular targets to which drugs could be designed to act on with selectivity and good tolerability. In previous IETF-funded work, we […]

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Assessing the Relationship Between ET and Dementia
May 27, 2020

IETF Funded Research

Principal Investigator: Shyamal Mehta, MD, PhD. assistant professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic, Arizona PROJECT SUMMARY Specific Aims:Essential tremor (ET) is a common neurological condition which increases in prevalence with age and contributes to significant disability by interfering with activities of daily living (ADLs) in most affected patients. Dementia is another common neurological condition […]

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Conclusion Summary

Genome Wide Copy Number Variations and ET
February 6, 2020

IETF Funded Research

Principal Investigator: Guy Rouleau, M.D., Ph.D., FRCPCMontreal Neurological Institute and Hospital Like many other common human diseases and traits, ET is known to cluster in families and it is believed to be influenced by several genetic and environmental factors. Overall genetic variants that are associated, or the cause, of ET have been sought for over […]

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Conclusion Summary

ET Research Grants
February 7, 2020

ET Research Grants

The IETF is requesting proposals for grants addressing the etiology and pathogenesis of essential tremor. Concise, clearly written proposals that are hypothesis-driven have the best chance of being funded. Download the Request for Applications guidelines to learn more.

We are grateful to the estates of Richard B. Peters, and Lillian and David Courtheoux who provide funding for this program.

Access 2024 Request for Applications

Brain Bank

Brain donation (also called postmortem examination or autopsy) is the only way to find the cause of essential tremor. You can learn more about brain donation by watching the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus Briefing (above). Brain banks enable researchers to actively study what happens in the brains of people with neurological conditions like ET. Learn more about brain donation.

Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements Journal

Wiley Online Library

Tremor Research Group

Research Recruitment

Choosing to participate in clinical research is a personal decision. It’s important to consider the benefits and risks before agreeing to be part of any study.

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Funded Research Archives

Norepinephrine’s Effects on the Cerebellum and Role in Tremor

2016, IETF Funded Research Archives

Principal Investigator: Dr. Esther Krook-Magnuson, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Propranolol is a beta-blocker and is the most widely used medication for the treatment of essential tremor. Dr. Krook-Magnuson believes propranolol’s actions are centrally located, working on a region of the brain known as the cerebellum, and slowing the amount of norepinephrine released.  Norepinephrine is a […]

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Summary Update

Application of Smartphones/Smartwatches in Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring of Essential Tremor

2016, IETF Funded Research Archives

Principal Investigator: Prof. Gregor Kuhlenbäumer, Kiel University, Germany The analysis and quantification of tremor is achieved by using a tremor measuring device called an accelerometer. However, accelerometry is not widely available and only a few centers have them available. Modern smartphones and smartwatches usually contain 3 sensors which might be suitable to analyzed tremor: (1) […]

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Summary Update