1800 244 735

Research articles

Click on this link to read our latest research articles.

Click on this link to find out more about Huntington’s NSW ACT Research grant opportunities.

HD Buzz

HDBuzz is a collaboration of scientists who write Huntington’s disease research news in plain language for the global HD community. They have allowed us to retrieve their articles for the NSW ACT Huntington’s community.

Westmead HD Outreach Service

The Outreach Service is part of a multidisciplinary team of medical, nursing and allied health services which provides review, intervention, treatment, case management, counselling, support, education and management of problems and issues associated with Huntington’s for patients, their families and carers. In addition to this care, the service has been involved in local and major international research studies since its establishment at Westmead Hospital in 1995. Hundreds of volunteers have generously participated in research to better understand the disease and in the search for effective treatments.

Westmead Hospital is a HSG Credential Research Site. Professor Clement Loy is the Principal Investigator for this site.

Global research collaboration

The Huntington Study Group (HSG) is the world’s first HD cooperative therapeutic research organization. Today, HSG is a world leader in facilitating high quality clinical research trials and studies that bring us closer to finding more effective treatments for HD and reducing the burden of HD for families affected by the disease.

HSG is an organization of compassionate professionals dedicated to finding treatments that make a difference, providing rigorous care initiatives, and improving the quality of life and outcomes for HD families. They bring together families, medical professionals, clinical researchers, HD advocacy groups, and sponsors to raise awareness of HD, share knowledge and best practices, and develop innovative treatments.

Enroll-HD

Enroll-HD is a clinical research platform and the world’s largest observational study for Huntington’s disease families. It is a resource for the entire HD community, including families, clinicians, researchers, advocates, and anyone else who has a connection to or an interest in HD.

Huntington’s Disease Network of Australia

The Huntington’s Disease Network of Australia (HDNA) is a project conceived by Professor Julie Stout of Monash University. Formed in 2020 to coordinate efforts that enhance care and services for HD and prepare for the advent of new HD treatments. The Map-HD Registry is for people in Australia who are affected by HD. All family members or people affected by HD are encouraged to register, whether or not they are at risk themselves.
 
 

          Huntington's Disease Network of Australia

Coming soon from the 2013 Huntington's Disease World Congress: Buzzilia!

Published date: 8 September, 2013

Jeff Carroll and Ed Wild will be reporting on the hottest science news from the 2013 World Congress on Huntington’s Disease in Rio de Janeiro, from Sunday 15th to Wednesday 18th September, in a special feature we’re calling Buzzilia! The World Congress on Huntington’s Disease The World Congress on Huntington’s Disease is the biggest regular ... Read more

Could muscle problems help explain movements in Huntington’s Disease patients?

Published date: 6 September, 2013

A proper balance of electrically charged particles is required for muscle cells to respond appropriately to stimuli. However, a recent report by a group of scientists from California State Polytechnic University concludes that disruption of this balance occurs in Huntington’s disease – causing HD mouse muscle fibers to contract more easily than they should. A ... Read more

The 2013 HDBuzz Prize for Young Science Writers

Published date: 2 September, 2013

We’re pleased to announce the 2013 HDBuzz Prize, an opportunity for early-career Huntington’s disease researchers to get involved in communicating HD science to the global community, see their work published here and win US$500 in Amazon vouchers! Calling all HD scientists After the success of the inaugural HDBuzz prize last year, we’re again looking for ... Read more

Does a 'rusty hinge' cause Huntington's disease?

Published date: 27 August, 2013

Figuring out how the mutant huntingtin protein causes damage is the central problem of Huntington’s disease research. Now a team of Canadian researchers led by Dr Ray Truant has shown that the protein has an important ‘hinge’ function, which works less well in cells with the HD mutation. Exciting stuff, but contrary to what you ... Read more

How long is too long? Rethinking the Huntington’s disease ‘gray area’

Published date: 19 August, 2013

The Huntington’s disease genetic test involves counting the number of CAGs at the start of the HD gene. Some results are in a ‘gray area’ -nlarger than normal but smaller than the range that causes HD. Now, by closely studying people with CAG counts in the intermediate range, the PHAROS study has found some subtle ... Read more

Can sad mice help treat Huntington's disease?

Published date: 17 July, 2013

Many Huntington’s disease patients suffer from depression. New mouse work from Asa Petersen’s group in Lund, Sweden, suggests that part of the brain called the “hypothalamus” might play a role in this symptom of HD. Depression in HD Having Huntington’s disease is an extremely difficult situation, so it might not surprise you to hear that ... Read more

Gene silencing drug safe in ALS patients… bring on Huntington's disease trials

Published date: 29 June, 2013

Gene silencing drugs, which tell cells to stop making the harmful huntingtin protein, are among the top approaches being worked on to fight Huntington’s disease. A human trial in motor neuron disease using ‘ASO’ gene silencing drugs has just shown the drugs and delivery method to be safe, boosting plans to get clinical trials of ... Read more

A DNA repair protein modifies the stability of long CAG tracts in the Huntington's disease gene

Published date: 3 June, 2013

The protein MSH3 performs an important function in cells, searching out and helping to repair genetic mistakes and damaged DNA. However, a new study from scientists at The University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, suggests MSH3 may aid Huntington’s disease progression by increasing CAG repeat instability in the brain. The problem of genetic instability ... Read more

Landmark study puts Huntington's disease trials on TRACK

Published date: 9 May, 2013

If we find a therapy that we hope can slow down Huntington’s disease, how can we prove that it works in patients? What tests should we do and how long should we follow people up after treatment in order to see any real benefits? A major new paper from Sarah Tabrizi and colleagues, reporting the ... Read more

Splicing with danger: a new way of thinking about the harmful Huntington's disease protein

Published date: 6 May, 2013

Researchers are hard at work figuring out exactly how the expanded Huntington’s disease gene causes harm. Recent work from a UK group has uncovered another clue to help solve the mystery. It turns out that faulty processing of the huntingtin ‘recipe’ produces a short, harmful fragment of the huntingtin protein. The cookbook, the recipe, and ... Read more