Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20HDSA Human Biology Project In November, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America announced that nine research grants have been awarded under the Society’s largest research initiative, the HDSA Huntington’s Disease Human Biology Project. Totaling $930,000, these grants represent HDSA’s patient-centric research focus which brings basic and clinical researchers together to facilitate Huntington’s disease science in the human condition, instead of in animal models, with the direct participation of people affected by Huntington’s disease. “Now in its fourth year, the HD Human Biology Project is the perfect combination of innovative patient-focused research and development of the world’s brightest young scientists to ensure a robust pipeline of researchers for the future”, said George Yohrling, Ph.D., Senior Director, Mission and Scientific Affairs at HDSA. “This year’s fellows represent the best in pursuits of novel HD human biology from all around the globe, and their research will push the boundaries of HD knowledge to inform vital topics such as Juvenile-onset HD, biomarker identification, stem cell technology and symptomatic treatment.” HDSA received applications from researchers from all around the world. Ultimately, grants were awarded to nine research fellows, from the United States, Canada and Spain. The winners and titles of the 2016 HDSA HD Human Biology Project Grants are: Dr. Madeleine Sharp Assistant Professor, McGill University, Canada Striatal-dependent reward processing: A substrate for early behavioral symptoms in Huntington’s disease Dr. Wasim Malik Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts General Hospital Oculomotor assessment as a potential biomarker for Huntington’s disease Steven Marinero Graduate Student, Duke University Brain infiltration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in driving neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease Dr. Natalia Pessoa Rocha Research Fellow, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Microglial activation in HD: A structural and functional study Alan Phipps Graduate Student, Indiana University Efficacy of tDCS for improving gait in HD Dr. Rocio Gomez-Pastor Research Fellow, Duke University Prevention of subnormal degradation of the neuronal protective factor HSF1 in Huntington’s disease. 9 Dr. Lisa Salazar Assistant Project Scientist, University of California at Irvine Molecular and cellular assessment of huntingtin lowering in differentiated patient-derived HD iPSCs. Charles Mosier Research Associate University of California at San Diego Proximal Huntingtin Protein Interaction Networks in Human Juvenile and Early Adult HD Brains Analyzed by Proteomics and Systems Biology Dr. Veronica Ines Brito Research Fellow, University of Barcelona Medical School Study of mitochondrial outcomes as biomarkers of Huntington´s Disease progression and/or readouts of pharmacological interventions