Research by Prof Anja Lowit and her team at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, studying the effectiveness of a new type of speech therapy for some progressive ataxias, has shown some promising […]
On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st October 2023, Ataxia UK held their first ever hybrid in-person and virtual annual conference for families affected by ataxia. The conference, which took place
Reflections on the Ataxia UK Annual Conference 2023 Read More »
On 19th September, Euro-ataxia hosted its first webinar on gene therapy as part of a new series with Ataxia UK. 70 audience members attended live, and 70 watched the recording.
Euro-ataxia hosts first in a series of webinars with Ataxia UK on gene therapy   Read More »
The team at the Sheffield Ataxia Centre, led by Prof Marios Hadjivassiliou, has been investigating whether faulty genes called RFC1 seen in a condition called CANVAS (cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and
Earlier this year, Ataxia UK awarded a travel grant to Dr David Pellerin at University College London, to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Supporting
American Academy of Neurology 2023 Read More »
Biohaven is a pharmaceutical company developing Troriluzole as a treatment for SCA3. In May 2023, Biohaven submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US regulators (the FDA), to apply
Biohaven update on Troriluzole programme Read More »
Do you want to learn about what gene therapy is, or what the future of gene therapy research may bring? Euro-ataxia, with support from Ataxia UK, will be hosting an
Gene therapy educational webinar Read More »
Biohaven is a pharmaceutical company with an ataxia research programme. They carried out a clinical trial testing Troriluzole in a number of SCAs. Results of this 48 week trial showed
Biohaven submits NDA to FDA Read More »
Late-onset spinocerebellar ataxia 27B (SCA27B) is newly discovered ataxia which is caused by a mutation in a gene called fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14). This discovery may lead to more
Newly discovered ataxia SCA27B shows promising response to a treatment Read More »
SCA-Remote is a study which aims to understand how different spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) symptoms develop over time. You can read more about the study here. The researchers involved in this
SCA-Remote study recruiting people without ataxia Read More »
Ataxia UK were saddened to hear that Biogen have stopped their Phase I clinical trial for SCA3 therapeutic BIIB132 (MERA study). The trial was planned to be an international study,
Biogen announce they have stopped SCA3 clinical trial Read More »
SIMPATHIC Consortium receives grant from European Commission The SIMPATHIC Consortium, led by the Dutch Radboud University Medical Center and Amsterdam University Medical Centers, has developed a new approach to expedite
8.8 million euros for accelerated drug repurposing for rare neurological disorders Read More »
Vico Therapeutics is a company developing therapies for neurological conditions, including some of the SCAs. In April 2023, they announced that they have dosed the first patient in their Phase
Vico Therapeutics – First patient dosed in trial Read More »
A recent study led by a group of researchers in Portugal tested the effect of trehalose on an animal model of SCA3.
Trehalose in SCA3 Read More »
The optimal clinical pathway sets out what good treatment, care and support looks like for people with neurological conditions, from those experiencing the first symptoms, to those that have lived
Optimal clinical pathway for people in England with rare neurological conditions Read More »
Professor Anja Lowit (University of Strathclyde) and team have published positive results from their study of a new approach to speech therapy, called ClearSpeechTogether. In this Ataxia UK-funded project, people
Positive results from Ataxia UK-funded speech therapy project Read More »
Researchers in Canada have been studying a rehabilitation programme for a type of ataxia called ARSACS. The aim of their study was to see whether a rehabilitation programme could improve
Exploratory study – ARSACS exercise programme Read More »
Many people with ataxia do not have a specific genetic diagnosis and the cause of their ataxia is unknown. Two papers have been published which have identified a genetic mutation
New genetic cause of late-onset ataxia discovered Read More »
The 100,000 Genomes Project, launched in 2013, aimed to sequence 100,000 genomes from people with rare conditions, such as ataxia, or cancer. Sequencing the whole genome of people with rare
Did you take part in the 100,000 Genomes Project?  Read More »
ARSACS is a rare inherited ataxia caused by mutations in a gene called the SACS gene, which is responsible for producing the sacsin protein. In people with ARSACS, the sacsin
Understanding the cause of ARSACS Read More »
Rare neurological conditions, such as ataxia, often cause problems with balance and coordination, which can limit physical activity. Interventions aimed at improving levels of physical activity are often recommended, for
Measuring physical activity in trials Read More »
Last year, we publicised two surveys from the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) and the James Lind Alliance (JLA). The aim of these surveys was to identify research priorities for
Top Ten UK research priorities for interventions in childhood neurological conditions Read More »
Researchers from The German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Tübingen, and the ESMI Consortium, have published a study looking at the potential for gait measurements to quantify progression of
Gait measurements as a potential biomarker for SCA3 Read More »
PROSPAX (PROgression chart of SPAstic ataXias) and TREAT-ARCA are two global projects, aimed at advancing research into specific ataxias (ARSACS and SPG7 for PROSPAX, and ARSACS and COQ8A-ataxia for TREAT-ARCA).
PROSPAX and TREAT-ARCA project updates Read More »
The research that Ataxia UK funds has a real impact on the world of ataxia research, and our understanding of all ataxias. Every year we ask Ataxia UK-funded researchers to
Research Impact Report 2022 Read More »
Dr Hector Garcia-Moreno is a Neurologist and Clinical Research Fellow working at the London Ataxia Centre, in the team led by Professor Paola Giunti. Dr Garcia-Moreno is involved in the
Identification of SCA3 biomarkers – an interview with Dr Hector Garcia-Moreno Read More »
In January 2022, researchers at UCL/UCLH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Ataxia UK and Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), published a paper on the attitudes of people with ataxia towards clinical
Paper published on the attitudes of people with ataxia towards clinical trials Read More »
An article published in the Lancet Neurology showed that whole genome sequencing (WGS) can detect common inherited neurological disorders, including some ataxias. Genetic testing can be a slow process, with
A simple DNA test can detect common neurological disorders Read More »
At the 2021 Ataxia UK Annual Conference, there was an interesting session from Professor Marios Hadjivassiliou and Emma Foster on immune and gluten ataxias. During the Q and A session, Emma
Ataxia UK Annual Conference: Gluten-free diet tips for gluten ataxia patients Read More »
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of rare, progressive hereditary genetic disorders that affects the cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord. Currently, more than 30 types of SCAs have been identified. SCAs are caused by genetic mutations,
