Dr Roberto Testi and his lab team recently completed a project on ataxia
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Research funded by Ataxia UK
Ataxia UK funds a wide variety of research projects. Below is a list of all projects currently being funded, and of projects that have ended in the last 5 years. Additionally, Ataxia UK contributes towards travel and conference expenses.
Friedreich's ataxia research
Current projects
- Neuron-validated Approaches for Developing Friedreich’s Ataxia Therapeutics Principal Researchers: Dr Richard Wade-Martins, Dr Filip Lim*, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford
- Restoration of Frataxin gene expression in Friedreich’s ataxia- identification and characterisation of novel epigenetic therapies Principal researcher: Professor Richard Festenstein, Imperial College London
- Development of an improved GAA repeat expansion mutation-based mouse model of Friedreich ataxia for therapeutic testing Principal researcher: Dr Mark Pook, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK
- Longitudinal Analysis of the Natural History of Friedreich’s ataxia Principal researchers: Dr Jonathan Mark Cooper, Dr Richard Orrell, Professor Anthony HV Schapira, Professor Stefan Neubauer, Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Free Campus, Institute of Neurology, University College of London
Projects that ended in last 3 years
- Development of histone deacetylase inhibitors as treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia Principal researchers: Elisabetta Soragni & Joel Gottesfeld, the Scripps Research Institute, California. This project is joint-funded by Ataxia UK, GOFAR and FASI
- Time dependence and dose response of HDAC inhibitors of the pimelic diamide family on the chromatin structure of the frataxin gene Principal researchers: Elisabetta Soragni & Joel Gottesfeld, the Scripps Research Institute, California. This project is joint-funded by Ataxia UK and GOFAR
- Understanding the role of frataxin in cell survival Principal researcher: Dr Roberto Testi, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. This project is funded by Ataxia UK in collaboration with the US charity FARA
- Epigenetic modifiers as potential disease modifying factors in Friedreich's ataxia Principal researcher: Dr R Festenstein, Imperial College (London)
- Overcoming transcription defect in Friedreich's ataxia with small molecules Principle investigator: Professor Massimo Pandolfo, Universite Libre de Brussels, Belgium
- Cannabinoid therapeutic testing of a Friedreich ataxia mouse model Principle investigator: dr Mark Pook, Brunel University
Cerebellar ataxia research
Current projects
- Translation control of mRNAs with CAG repeat expansions and its implication for pathogenesis and therapy of SCA2 and other spinocerebellar ataxias Principal researchers: Professor Susann Schweiger, Division of Pathology and Neuroscience, University of Dundee
- Understanding the role of interruptions in polyQ diseases Researchers: Paola Giunti, Annalisa Pastore, University College London and National Institute for Medical Research, London
- DNA replication origin and triplet repeat instability in spinocerebellar ataxia type VII (SCA7) Principal researchers: Dr Mauro Giacca and Dr Alessandro Carrer, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- Evaluation of RNA trans-splicing therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia, type 1 – A pilot study Principal researcher: Jean-Marc GALLO, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London
- Developing non-invasive therapeutic technology to improve motor coordination in cerebellar ataxias Principal researchers: Professor David Lee, Dr Benjaman Schögler Perception Movement Action Research Centre, the University of Edinburgh
- RNAi therapy for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Principal researcher: Dr Matthew JA Wood, University of Oxford
- The Genetic and Functional Characterisation of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 11 (SCA11) Principal researchers: Dr Henry Houlden, Dr Paola Giunti and Professor Nicholas Wood, Institute of Neurology London
- DNA Single-Strand Break Repair and Ataxia Oculomotor Apraxia Principal researchers: Dr Sherif El-Khamisy, University of Sussex, UK
- Development of high throughput genetic testing for cerebellar ataxias Principal Researchers: Dr Andrea Nemeth, Dr Kevin Talbot, Dr Jenny Taylor, Dr Anneke Seller, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
- Therapeutic potential of modulators of cannabinoid receptors in cerebellar ataxias Principal researchers: Gary Stephens, Benjamin Whalley, School of Pharmacy, University of Reading
- Coenzyme Q10 a potential therapeutic target for ataxia: Evaluation of therapeutic strategies Principal researchers: Dr. Iain P. Hargreaves, Dr Simon R.J. Heales, Dr. Shamima Rahman, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Institute of Neurology, University College of London
- Endogenous Cerebellar Stem Cells and their Potential Neuroregenerative Role in Inherited Ataxias Principal researcher: Professor Silvia Marino, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Identification of transport processes which influence the intracellular localization of ataxin-3 Principal researcher: Dr Thorsten Schmidt, University of Tuebingen, Germany
- Neural regeneration in the cerebellum: Development of cell replacement strategies for the management of spinocerebellar ataxias Researchers: Dr Gian Giacomo Consalez, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Professor Ferdinando Rossi, University of Turin, Italy Physiotherapy research
Projects that ended in last 3 years
- Identification of a novel gene causing autosomal dominant ataxia and nystagmus Principal Researcher: Nicola Ragge, University of Oxford
- Regulation of voltage-gate calcium channels in ataxia Principal researcher: Dr Jamie Weiss, The University of Sheffield
- Investigations into the cellular function of ataxin-2 by the use of ssRNA aptamers Principal researchers: Dr. Sylvia Krobitsch and Dr. Zoltán Konthur, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Germany
- Cognitive effects of cerebellar disorder Principal researchers: Professor Tim Griffiths, Professor Patrick Chinnery and Dr Tom Kelly, University of Newcastle
- Gluten ataxia - IgA deposits against TG2 in duodenal biopsies of patients with sporadic ataxia Principle investigator: Dr Marios Hadjivassiliou, royal Hallamhire Hospital, Sheffield
- Genetic and functional analysis in the gene causing SCA13 in UK patients with ataxia Principle investigators: Professor Kay Davies, Dr Kevn Talbot, Dr Esther Becker, University of Oxford
- Degenerative ataxias and the potential for neuroprotection Principle investigator: Dr Alistair Wilkins and Professor Neil Scolding, University of Bristol
Research into physiotherapy and speech and language therapy
Current projects
- Disruption of balance in spinocerebellar ataxia: developing targeted therapies Principal researchers: Dr Brian Day, Dr Paola Giunti and Dr Jon Marsden, Institute of Neurology London
Projects that ended in last 3 years
- An investigation into the relationship between rhythm and intonation in ataxic dysarthria Principal researchers: Dr Anja Lowit and Dr Ineke Mennen, University of Strathclyde
- An investigation into the effect of lycra pressure garments in the managemet of movement control problems caused by cerebellar ataxia Principle invesitgators: Martin Watson, Kathryn Mares, Dr Margaret McArthur, Dr Paul Worth, Stephanie Brown, University of East Anglia
- Contemporary physiotherapy practice for people with ataxia: the perspectives of clients and physiotherapists Principle investigators: Elisabeth Cassidy, Frances Reynolds, Sandra Naylor, Anbreen Khan, Brunel University
