Paraplégie spastique Financement - Recherche - Traitement Spastic paraplegia Funding - Research - Treatment

The basic objective of funding medical research into hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) through fundraising efforts still holds true. Although the efforts of the foundation were very limited again this year they did exist - mostly based on electronic means. This year a research collaboration was established with a Canadian university and a cohort of HSP subjects was established to advance medical research into this rare movement disorder. Research Project with the NEURO in McGill (Institut et hôpital neurologique de Montréal) I have been working on a research project with the people in charge of the 'C-BIG open biobank' at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital also called the NEURO. C-BIG open biobank stands for 'Clinical Biospecimen Imaging and Genetic Repository' and it is housed in the NEURO in Montreal's McGill University. The NEURO is a world-renowned center of expertise in the field of HSP research with the goal of accelerating discoveries and curing HSP. The C-BIG biobank has been in operation for several years now. However to date it does not have any samples specific to a group of people with HSP. Nor do any exist elsewhere in Canada. This HSP project fills this gap by creating a cohort of HSP patients donating their DNA for further processing and general research. This project will thereby allow researchers to have a very broad view of HSP. Using human DNA researchers will be able to define the different pathways of the disease. HSP patient participation will also allow the HSP community to greatly contribute to fundamental research. This will also prepare doctors and clinicians for future clinical trials/ drugable outcomes/ treatments/ cures.