National Ataxia Foundation Incorporated

Increased awareness about hereditary and sporadic ataxia disorders is promoted through a variety of education programs and materials for ataxia families, researchers, physicians, allied health professionals, government agencies, legislative officials and the general public. The Foundation publishes Generations, an annual newsletter and a monthly e-newsletter devoted to ataxia related articles including the latest research and other information beneficial to individuals with ataxia. The Foundation also offers several webinars throughout the year on current topics relevant to the ataxia community. Other educational materials, such as books, videos and fact sheets are provided to persons with ataxia, family members and health care professionals on a "direct request" basis through the NAF office. The Foundation's advocacy activities, such as Hill Days, serve to raise awareness about ataxia and policy issues impacting the ataxia community. The annual ataxia conference, and sponsorship and/or participation in national and international meetings, symposiums and seminars also serve to increase ataxia awareness.The National Ataxia Foundation attempts to locate people and families with hereditary and sporadic ataxia in order to provide them with information about ataxia. This is accomplished by providing updated information about ataxia to the general public by maintaining a website, social media channels, newsletters, and webinars. The Foundation assists individuals and families by identifying clinical resources and making appropriate referrals for neurological care, genetic counseling and gene testing. The Foundation also assists people with locating resources within their own communities, including support groups. The Foundation's network of support groups throughout the country provides families with access to in-person and virtual meeting opportunities.

NAF is committed to funding cutting-edge basic and translational research into hereditary and sporadic ataxia. The goals of NAF's research program are to further elucidate the disease mechanisms of ataxias, bring early-career clinicians and scientists into ataxia research, and help drive the field towards developing treatments and a cure for ataxia. Annual grants are selected through a competitive review process that includes NAF's Medical and Research Advisory Board members and over 80 leading ataxia scientists and clinicians, both domestic and international. Each year NAF awards grants to researchers from domestic and international non-profit and for-profit institutions that directly support basic and translational ataxia research through the following funding mechanisms:1. Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Awards: Annually granted to outstanding research proposals that aim to make significant advancements in the development of treatments and/or improvements to patient care for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3). Proposals may incorporate other forms of ataxia but must have a predominant focus on SCA3 translational or clinical research. 2. Seed Money Research Grant: Granted primarily as "seed monies" to assist investigators in the early or pilot phase of their studies and as additional support for ongoing investigations on demonstration of need. It is hoped that these studies will be further developed to attract future funding from other sources. 3. Post-doctoral Fellowship Award: Post-doctoral fellowship awards are to serve as a bridge from post-doctoral positions to junior faculty positions. Applicants should have completed at least one year of post-doctoral training, but not more than two at the time of application and should have shown a commitment to research in the field of ataxia. The award will permit individuals to spend an additional third year in a post-doctoral position and increase chances to establish an independent ataxia research program.4. Ear

Funding for several of NAF's other key clinical research programs are provided through the NAF Drug Development Collaborative (DDC). The DDC is a pre-competitive pharmaceutical industry consortium with a principal goal of accelerating the development of treatments for ataxia. The Collaborative provides a centralized source for access to resources needed to support research and development of Ataxia therapies. Specific objectives of the Collaborative include natural history and bio sample data collection, development of biomarkers, validation of rating scales, clinical trial design, patient-reported outcomes, and other data necessary for the development and approval of safe and effective therapies. Two significant programs that are largely sponsored by the DDC include:1. No-cost Genetic Counseling and Testing Initiative: This program provides virtual genetic counseling and testing for individuals at-risk for three of the most common dominant ataxias to members at no-cost to participants. The aim of this program is to help individuals overcome barriers that have historically inhibited wide-spread genetic testing as well as support drug development through expanding the patient population eligible for future clinical trials.2. Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA) Natural History Study: The CRC-SCA is one of the longest running and largest natural history studies of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). A natural history study collects data that shows how a specific disease progresses in individuals over time. Natural history studies are essential for developing clinical trial designs that will facilitate drug development. There are over 300 patients enrolled at 16 CRC-SCA sites in the US and Canada. During annual visits, site investigators collect critical clinical data to aid in understanding disease progression and help guide future clinical trial design. Biofluids, such as plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid, are also collected from