Clinical Research

The Opal Lab is actively recruiting research participants/patients for the following clinical trials:

1. Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia (CRC SCA) to Study Natural History and Genetic Modifiers in Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA).
   
   The purpose of this study is to collect natural history data among ataxia patients in a cohort of SCA 1, 2, 3, 6 patients using clinic-based neurological rating scales and performance measures. Another study goal is to identify new measures of ataxia, cognition, and neurobehavior in comparison to traditional clinician rating methods. The gene analysis is expected to establish a relationship, if any, between age at onset of disease and disease progression rates.
   
   
2. Clinical Trial Readiness for SCA1 and SCA3.
   
   Subjects must be 18-65 years of age with symptoms of ataxia or a diagnosis of SCA1 or SCA3 or have an affected family member. Subjects with a previous diagnosis of early stage SCA1 or SCA 3 may also be eligible. Subject must be able to undergo a MRI (brain scan) and not weigh over 300 lbs.