Friedreich’s Ataxia Alliance at Oxford Launched

February 22, 2022

Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) was chosen as the first disease priority area of the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre. FA is a debilitating, degenerative neuromuscular rare disorder, with childhood onset, affecting more than 20,000 globally.

On 3rd February 2022 the Friedreich’s Ataxia Alliance at Oxford (FA Alliance) was formally launched at a three hour workshop event held at St Cross College, Oxford. The event featured presentations on Friedreich’s Ataxia and a networking session for the 25 participants.

Presenters included leaders from FARA (the US-based Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance), Andrea Németh (Professor of Neurogenetics and Consultant in Clinical Genetics) and Richard Wade-Martins (Professor of Molecular Neuroscience), who have long-standing interests in FA target and drug discovery. 

A networking session gave the newly established FA Alliance the opportunity to identify new avenues for clinical, target and drug discovery research projects in FA, with the input and expertise of FARA and Ataxia UK, the leading UK charity supporting ataxia patients and research. The FA Alliance at Oxford will work collaboratively with the existing global FA research and therapeutic development community to accelerate delivery of therapies to treat FA.

For any enquiries about the FA Alliance at Oxford, please contact our OHC Research Facilitator Geoff Denwood, who would be delighted to hear from you.