Our mission at the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is to improve the quality of life for those affected by Huntington disease (HD). One of the ways that we address our mission is by investing in promising research.
International HD research focuses on finding treatments that reverse, slow, or prevent the progression of HD. HSC and HD Canadian researchers are key to this effort. HSC will invest in excellent, peer-reviewed research into the most promising basic and clinical research, leading to viable treatments for HD. HSC will continue to partner with world-class organizations to leverage the best resources and expertise that will positively influence the direction of HD research in Canada and globally.
Since 2003, HSC has funded 37 research awards for 24 investigators at 16 institutions across 7 provinces, providing over $7.5 million in research funding.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the tireless efforts of our fundraisers, HSC has been able to invest in research excellence and training to accelerate progress in HD over the past 20+ years. We have contributed to the understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of HD by funding more than 37 research projects and supporting 27 student fellowships from 12 universities. Many of our supported researchers have emerged as international leaders in HD research. Since 2015, our commitment has extended to the clinic, with 8 clinical fellowships designed to equip promising young physicians with the expertise to deliver specialized care for families facing HD. Investments like these shape the future of research and care.
The Research Program also invests in training and knowledge-sharing opportunities, supporting conferences such as the Canadian Movement Disorders Residents Course and national Movement Disorder Meeting.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to delve into this new area of research in Huntington disease,” says Dr. Martin. “The experience of this next generation team of HD researchers perfectly aligns with the goals of the Navigator award. We hope this will help us identify new pathways for therapeutics in HD. As new DLK inhibitors emerge, we will be poised to repurpose them for HD.”
Dr. Dale Martin
University of Waterloo
