Huntington Disease Care, Education, and Research Center
A Huntington Disease Society of America (HDSA) Center of Excellence
The Huntington Disease Care, Education, and Research Center uses a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of patients and their families. Consistent with Georgetown University Medical Center’s devotion to cura personalis, or care of the whole person, the HD-CERC aims towards cura familia, or care of the whole family. Our services and support encompass family members and caregivers.
Preliminary News On Potential HD Treatment
We are aware of the preliminary phase I/II data reported by several news outlets about a potential treatment for Huntington’s disease. The company sponsoring the clinical trial, uniQure, stated:
“The study met its prespecified primary endpoint, with high-dose AMT-130 demonstrating a statistically significant slowing of disease progression as measured by the composite Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (cUHDRS) at 36 months compared to a propensity score-matched external control. The study also met a key secondary endpoint by achieving statistically significant slowing of disease progression as measured by Total Functional Capacity (TFC) at 36 months compared to a propensity score-matched external control.”
This news is very exciting and gives us much-needed hope. It’s important to note that the data from the trial are preliminary and need additional review. The company plans to pursue FDA approval based on these data; we will be watching this process closely and updating our patients and their families as we learn more. For more information, consider reading articles from reputable news organizations such as The New York Times and HDBuzz , or listening to this interview with Dr. Ed Wild as he discusses the UniQure update.
Karen E. Anderson, MD, Director
Georgetown-MedStar Huntington Disease Care, Education & Research Center
Make a Gift
Give a gift online in support of the Georgetown University Huntington Care, Education, and Research Center.
You and your family will benefit from our:
- Team approach. Our program includes experts across the entire spectrum of care, from neuropsychologists and genetic counselors to therapists and social workers. All of these specialists are available in our clinic and regularly consult on patient cases.
- Comprehensive treatments. Our specialists develop personalized treatment plans to manage every aspect of the disease: movement disorders, mood disorders and cognitive disorders.
- Family focus. We realize that no family can manage Huntington’s disease on its own without real social support. We are one of the only clinics that has a full-time dedicated social worker.
- Commitment to research. Our Center is part of the Huntington Study Group, a collaboration of medical experts conducting research and clinical trials in the hopes of finding better treatments and ways to slow or stop the disease.
- Community locations. We believe it’s important to provide care at locations convenient and easily accessible to our patients. We also have offices at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, MD, and MedStar Health in McLean, VA.
For more information, including videos from clinicians, visit Huntington’s Disease Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Emily Weaver, MSW, LICSW
Contact Line: 202-687-1366
HD-CERC News
HD-CERC Announcements
Check Out HD-CERC’s Feature in the Enroll-HD on Page 8!
HD-CERC Pet of the Month! – Avocado!
Here’s some fun facts about Avocado!
- Avocado is a girls girl. She doesn’t think any gal should be in the bathroom alone, and keeps a close eye on anyone that’s in the shower for too long (per her standards).
- Avocado has a devious side and likes to trick her mom, mom’s friends, and the cat sitter into feeding her extra meals (she makes a VERY convincing case, and we’ve been duped too many times to count…) (tongue out pic)
- Avocado is a city kitty! She has lived in Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC. Here she is featured in her first home in PGH. (Laying down on bed pic)
- Avocado was named by the Humane Animal Rescue – and it suits her perfectly! She has green eyes and a figure reminiscent of an avocado (this is a compliment). (Pear shaped pose pic)
- Bonus fact! Avocado holds an honorary MSW degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and is halfway through her honorary DSW degree from the University of Kentucky. Way to go, Avocado! (Rise & shine pic)
HD-CERC Events
