We are raising money to fund research for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 6 (SCA6). SCA6 is an inherited degenerative brain disorder that has been in my family for generations, greatly impacting my grandmother, father, sister, and aunt's lives. It affects your cerebellum, a part of your brain responsible for coordination of movement. This inherited condition worsens over time and causes problems with coordination of the eyes, hands, legs, speech, and swallowing. It takes only one copy of the mutated gene from one biological parent to cause the condition. Therefore, when a person with SCA6 has children, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutated gene.
Researchers, including Dr. Christopher Gomez, are exploring ways to help people manage and treat SCA6, which is why funding is desperately needed! Dr. Gomez established The University of Chicago Ataxia Center in 2006 as a specialty clinic and research center devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ataxias. Dr. Gomez has over 20 years of expertise in the evaluation and treatment of patients with diverse forms of degenerative ataxia. Your generous donations will help further his research in hopes of developing a cure!