It is estimated that approximately 30,000 Americans have Huntington ’s disease (HD).  HD not only effects those who are diagnosed with the disease, it also effects the whole family. In addition, every child of a parent that has HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the expanded gene that causes the disease.  As a community, the lack of knowledge about HD keeps many friends and neighbors from offering social and emotional support which can further lead a family into isolation and the feeling of being alone on their journey.

In honor of Huntington ’s disease Awareness Month, the University of Louisville - Movement Disorders Clinic will be hosting an open house on 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. May 29 to answer questions about Huntington’s disease and offer free chair massages!  The event will be in the Bill Collins Resource Center, located on the first floor of Frazier Rehab Institute.  We encourage everyone to stop by and learn more about this disease and what the UofL Movement Disorders Clinic can do to help those who have HD and their families.

We would also like to encourage those diagnosed with HD to inquire about two studies we are actively recruiting for here at the University of Louisville. A brief description about the studies are listed below. If you or your family member has questions about either study, please call Annette Robinson, RN, UofL Clinical Research Nurse at 502-540-3585 or email her at annette.robinson@louisville.edu.

-SIGNAL is a Phase 2 research trial for people who are at risk for Huntington Disease (HD) and have early signs of HD. The study will assess the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of VX15 (a novel monoclonal antibody).
-Enroll-HD is a worldwide observational study for HD family members. We’re collecting data from families affected by HD in an effort to improve our understanding and treatment of the disease.

Our clinic is a credentialed HD research site. 

For more information about HD, please visit the Kentucky chapter of the HD Society of America. 

We look forward to seeing you at our open house!

With best regards,

Kathrin LaFaver, M.D.
Movement Disorder Clinic Director
Raymond Lee Lebby Chair of Parkinson's Disease Research