Huntington's Disease Research

Research Projects at UC Davis Medical Center

The Huntington's Study Group (HSG)

HSG is an international consortium of scientific and academic centers worldwide committed to the cure of Huntington's disease. There are sixty-three participating sites in the US, Canada, Great Britian, Scandinavia, Australia, and France. The Center of Excellence at the University of California, Davis Medical Center is a participating member of the HSG.

Longitudinal UHDRS

This study is for people who have been diagnosed and have symptoms of Huntington's Disease. The goal of this study is to follow people with HD over time. Subjects are enrolled confidentially, and information about their functional, behavioral, psychiatric, motor, and cognitive status are recorded at six-month intervals and submitted to the Huntington's Study Group Database Center at the University of Rochester. This study is currently accepting new participants! If you're interested, contact us at research@hdteam.org or (916) 734-6278.

PHAROS

This study is for people who are at risk for Huntington's disease, have never been diagnosed with the disease, have never been tested for the HD gene, and have no symptoms. Potential participants need to be between the ages of 30 and 55. Participants will be followed at nine-month intervals for four to five years. This study is currently accepting new participants! If you're interested, contact us at research@hdteam.org or (916) 734-6278.

PREDICT-HD

This study is for people who have tested gene-positive but are not currently symptomatic. Participants will be followed at nine-month intervals in an effort to discern early and subtle changes in brain imaging, cognition, and mood. We anticipate enrolling new participants in Fall, 2001. If you're interested, contact us at research@hdteam.org or (916) 734-6278.

The Center of Excellence at the University of California, Davis Medical Center has ongoing interests in predictors of institutionalization for people with HD. Previous research demonstrates that gait and balance abnormalities were the biggest predictors of the need for nursing home care. Ongoing research seeks to document additional characteristics of people with HD in nursing homes and their needs.

Other Research Projects

For information on coenzyme Q-10, creatine, minocycline, remacimide, and other HD clinical trials, see the Huntington's Study Group web site.