UCI-HD CARE at the OC MARATHON: UCI MIND RUNNING TEAM to the Rescue!
Use of a New Class of Compounds Called HDAC inhibitors Gives Hope for the HD community
Pharmaceuticals currently used to treat cancer and other diseases may be successful for treating Huntington's disease, a UC Irvine research team has found. Leslie Thompson and Joan Steffan of the College of Medicine, Lawrence Marsh of the School of Biological Sciences and colleagues studied the genetic and molecular interactions in the disease and discovered that chemicals called HDAC inhibitors might counteract the course of Huntington's and possibly other progressive neurological diseases. more...
Editorial Board For the Journal of Huntington's Disease Include UC Irvine's Own
Drs. Joan Steffan, and Larry Marsh
Serving with Dr. Thompson on the editorial board are Drs. Joan Steffan and Larry Marsh of UCI, both among the top 100 cited researchers in Huntington’s disease. more...
Promising Treatments For Huntington's Disease Identified In UCI Study
Dr. Larry Marsh of UC Irvine have identified several promising drug compounds that when combined show the potential to treat Huntington’s disease. “Preclinical testing strategies such as those we used with fruit flies can result in a great savings of cost and time in developing potential disease treatments,” Marsh said. “They can serve to rapidly identify treatment regimens that are very likely to provide effective therapeutic benefit to patients.” Dr Larry Marsh leads the fight against Huntington's Disease using fruit fly models of HD. more...
Dr. Leslie Thompson Selected as First Editor of Journal of Huntington's Disease
Dr. Leslie Thompson, a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), has been named editor in chief of the first academic journal dedicated to Huntington’s disease. The quarterly Journal of Huntington’s Disease features original research in basic science, translational research and clinical studies. The 7th most cited researcher in Huntington’s disease (HD) over the past 25 years, Dr. Thompson is a professor of psychiatry and human behavior in the UCI School of Medicine and of neurobiology and behavior in the School of Biological Sciences.
Dr. Leslie Thompson, a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), has been named editor in chief of the first academic journal dedicated to Huntington’s disease. The quarterly Journal of Huntington’s Disease features original research in basic science, translational research and clinical studies. The 7th most cited researcher in Huntington’s disease (HD) over the past 25 years, Dr. Thompson is a professor of psychiatry and human behavior in the UCI School of Medicine and of neurobiology and behavior in the School of Biological Sciences.
Huntington's Disease
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder whereby the patient undergoes an onset of psychiatric symptoms, cognitive decline, and devastating motor deterioration. HD usually strikes in the prime of life and leaves family members to deal with mood swings, inexplicable behavioral inconsistencies, impulsive behaviors, and often severe depression.
HD Clinic
UCI has a longstanding commitment to people with Huntington's disease (HD) and their families, both in providing care to patients and in research toward a cure. We have on our campus a great deal of experience on both fronts. In the clinic we provide care with knowledge and experience in this uncommon diagnosis.
Huntington's Disease Research
UC Irvine is one of the nation's top HD research centers. Led by Dr. Leslie Thompson, HD research at UCI includes not only the basic science of Huntington's disease but also HD therapeutics. Dr. Thompson has potential therapeutics in the works that are not just stem cells but viral applications as well. Dr. Thompson leads the IPS consortium that has successfully created a human stem cell model of HD from skin cells! Her current and past work with biotechnology companies shows her continued diversity in performing some cutting-edge HD research.
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Juvenile Huntington's Disease
Juvenile HD is a variant of Huntington’s Disease whereby the mutant form of the huntingtin protein is extremely elongated by a CAG trinucleotide repeat. This can create onsets as 2 years old and late as their 20s. The extreme version of HD also creates severe manifestations of the disease as well. JHD tears away the patient’s ability to even reach adulthood without symptoms. The same symptoms of HD accompany JHD but sooner in life.
Mission Statement
UCI HD CARE is a UCI support group with 2 primary goals:
UCI HD CARE is a UCI support group with 2 primary goals:
- To fund Huntington's Disease research
- To contribute to the HD clinic at UC Irvine
Our Institutional Partners
