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They Found the Gene. Let's Find the Cure. Dear friends, While Ataxia MJD Research Project, Inc. continues to administer two existing grants, we are in the process of winding down our nonprofit. We suggest that all future donations be made to the National Ataxia Foundation with a restriction on each donation. If you want your donation to be used for SCA3 (MJD) research only, you should specify that in a note with each donation. You might say, “This donation is restricted to research oriented towards finding a treatment or cure for SCA3 or Machado-Joseph Disease”. Thank you to everyone who has supported Ataxia MJD Research Project, Inc. during the last 11 years. Because of your generous donations we have been able to fund several very important research projects that have moved science towards a treatment and cure for SCA3 (MJD). Laura Denning Ataxia MJD Research Project, Inc. President Please continue to support SCA3 (MJD) research by supporting the National Ataxia Foundation. National Ataxia Foundation 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Suite 119 Minneapolis, MN 55447 763-553-0020
Recent Grants: Of the three $50,000 grants in progress over the last two years, Dr. Maciel's (University of Minho) grant is still in progress and Dr. Pitman (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Bezprozvanny (University of Texas) have completed their grants. Dr. Bezprozvanny's results using an existing FDA approved compound, dantrolene, showed positive results. Dr. Bezproavanny has applied for an additional $50,000 grant to continue this promising research and has been approved for funding by our board of directors. His second grant will begin in early 2008. For more information, please download our newsletter. About Machado-Joseph DiseaseMachado-Joseph Disease (SCA3) is a hereditary neurodegenerative condition caused by glutamine-repeat expansion. MJD is somewhat similar to Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). It usually strikes in mid-life but also affects children and older adults causing ataxia (loss of balance and clumsiness), slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, loss of eye movement, sensations and muscle mass. Currently there's no treatment or cure and it is eventually fatal. If one parent has the disease, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it. MJD often affects individuals of Portuguese descent but it is a world-wide problem. Families with MJD are found in Portugal, the Azore Islands, the United States, Japan, Germany, Africa, England, Scandinavia, France, China, Israel and in other parts of the world. Non-Profit Organization ProfileAtaxia MJD Research Project was incorporated in 1996 at which time exempt status applications were filed with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of California. Tax exempt status under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) was granted by the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) and the State of California on a four year provisional basis. In 2001 the provisional status the tax exemption was removed by the I.R.S. In 1998 the San Francisco Examiner published an article about the organization and its founders-please click on the link below to read the full text of the article: 11/20/98 San Francisco Examiner article about Ataxia MJD Research Project One of our tax returns can be viewed by clicking on the link below: To help you read our IRS Form 990 please go to "How to Read a Form 990" by clicking on the link below: We have almost no overhead expenses as all work is done by volunteers and office space, web hosting and phone services are donated. This means that more than 90% of yoiur tax deductible contributions are going for actual research. Contact Information
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