Huntington's Disease Society of America
Encyclopedia
Huntington's Disease Society of America is a national non-profit organization
committed to finding a cure for Huntington's disease
. Huntington's disease is an incurable degenerative disease of the nervous system
that affects movement, thinking, and some aspects of personality. The disease is genetically transmitted
. They perform extensive education outreach and support for patient's and families affected by Huntington's disease. The organization provides grants funding more than 40 research scientists and 17 Huntington disease laboratories. Grants from the organization have aided tests for early detection of the disease. They also provide matching grants for local fundraisers.
The organization was founded in 1967 as the Committee to Combat Huntington's Disease, by Marjorie Guthrie
, whose ex-husband, folk singer Woody Guthrie
, had died that year of the disease.
The HDSA has a Center of Excellence
located at University of California, Los Angeles
which is focused on treating people with Huntington's disease.
In June 2008 the HDSA initiated an annual award - the “Giving a Voice to HD” award, this recognizes an individual, or group, who have helped to raise awareness about HD in the community. The first award was to the HOPES project
for providing easy to understand information about HD for all ages.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
committed to finding a cure for Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder , is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. It typically becomes noticeable in middle age. HD is the most common genetic cause of abnormal involuntary writhing movements called chorea...
. Huntington's disease is an incurable degenerative disease of the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
that affects movement, thinking, and some aspects of personality. The disease is genetically transmitted
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
. They perform extensive education outreach and support for patient's and families affected by Huntington's disease. The organization provides grants funding more than 40 research scientists and 17 Huntington disease laboratories. Grants from the organization have aided tests for early detection of the disease. They also provide matching grants for local fundraisers.
The organization was founded in 1967 as the Committee to Combat Huntington's Disease, by Marjorie Guthrie
Marjorie Guthrie
Marjorie Mazia Guthrie was for a time the wife of folk musician Woody Guthrie, and was the mother of folk musician Arlo Guthrie and Woody Guthrie archivist Nora Guthrie....
, whose ex-husband, folk singer Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
, had died that year of the disease.
The HDSA has a Center of Excellence
Huntington's Disease Society of America: Center of Excellence
The HDSA Center of Excellence at University of California, Los Angeles is dedicated to treating Huntington's disease patients and their families. The Center of Excellence at UCLA is a comprehensive clinic where patients can access treatment by neurologists, social workers, psychiatrist and...
located at University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
which is focused on treating people with Huntington's disease.
In June 2008 the HDSA initiated an annual award - the “Giving a Voice to HD” award, this recognizes an individual, or group, who have helped to raise awareness about HD in the community. The first award was to the HOPES project
Huntington's Disease Outreach Project for Education at Stanford
The Huntington’s disease Outreach Project for Education at Stanford is a student-run project at Stanford University dedicated to making scientific information about Huntington’s disease more readily accessible to patients and the public. Initiated by Professor William H...
for providing easy to understand information about HD for all ages.