Brainstem – the part that connects and acts as a communicator between our brain and our spinal cord. The brainstem itself is composed of midbrain, pons, and medulla oblangata. Even minor injuries or disruptions to this neural communication and this region can have devastating consequences. The pons is a horseshoe-shaped Read More…
Written by Dr Hannah K Shorrock Edited by Dr Vitaliy V Bondar Measuring levels of polyQ ATXN3 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma distinguishes SCA3 patients from unaffected individuals For disease-modifying medicines or therapies to be approved for use in the clinic, the treatments must demonstrate success at meeting pre-set Read More…
Written by Carrie Sheeler Edited by Dr. Hayley McLoughlin Researchers use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine if brain volume can be a biomarker for SCA3 There are two goals of preclinical research. First, to understand the cause of a disease. Second, to develop treatments to stop or slow its Read More…
Written by Dr Hannah K Shorrock Edited by Dr. Maria do Carmo Costa Neurofilament light chain predicts cerebellar atrophy across multiple types of spinocerebellar ataxia A team led by Alexandra Durr at the Paris Brain Institute identified that the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein are higher in SCA1, Read More…
Public transit may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about the brain, but it’s a great way to understand how all the parts of the central nervous system work together. Nutrients, hormones, and other important molecules (the passengers) need to get on and off Read More…
Written by Dr. Marija Cvetanovic Edited by Dr. Larissa Nitschke Expanded CAG repeats are the cause of Huntington’s disease (HD) and several spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). Longer inherited CAG expansions correlate with the earlier disease onset and worse symptoms. We know from past research that these expansions are unstable and become longer Read More…
Nerve cells (aka neurons) are unique cells in that they have long, and thin extensions called axons which form connections with and talk to other neurons. This particular shape of neurons determines how quickly they can get their messages to other cells. You can think of the axons in the Read More…
Written by Dr. Ambika Tewari Edited by Dr. Gulin Oz Neurofilament light chain could provide a reliable readout of how far an SCA3 patient’s disease has progressed How often have you heard that the most effective way to treat a disorder is early intervention? In reality, “early” is not possible Read More…
Principal Investigator: Dr. Willeke van Roon-Mom Location: Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands Year Founded: 1995 What disease areas do you research? SCA1 SCA3 Huntington’s Disease Dutch – Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Alzheimer Disease What models and techniques do you use? Mouse Models hiPSC-derived stem cells models Post-mortem patient tissue Read More…
A biomarker is any biological-based measurement that provides useful information regarding a person’s health. For example, blood test results showing increased glucose levels can be used as a biomarker for diabetes. A blood test showing an increased white blood cell count is a biomarker for infection. There are many sources of Read More…
Our generous donors help us fund promising Ataxia research and offer support services to people with Ataxia. Your gift today will help us continue to deliver on our mission to improve the lives of persons affected by Ataxia.
Join for FREE today! Become a part of the community that is working together to find a cure. As a member you will receive access to the latest Ataxia news with our e-newsletter and Generations publication.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 27986
Golden Valley, MN 55427
Physical Address:
600 Highway 169 South
Suite 1725
Minneapolis, MN 55426
763-553-0020
763-553-0167 (Fax)
Donation match provided by Priority Courier Experts and the Cossack Foundation
Every $1 you donate to the 2022 Research Drive will be matched with a $2 donation!
