Scientific Conference Program

FARA has organized and supported a number of scientific conferences to keep the field informed of research progress and build collaborations and synergistic connections between FA researchers. FARA’s International Scientific Conference on Friedreich’s Ataxia has grown over its three iterations demonstrating the remarkable research advances into the underlying mechanisms of FA and increased interest within the scientific research community.

Conference History

On the day following FARA’s incorporation, the new organization submitted a grant application to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the first International Scientific Conference on Friedreich’s Ataxia conveined April 1999.

1999 - 1st FARA International Conference (3 days) 80 scientists from around the world

2003 - 2nd FARA International Conference (5 days) 100 scientists from 12 countries

2006 - 3rd FARA International Conference (3 days) 150 scientists from 12 countries

2010 - 4th FARA International Conference Coming Soon!

Research Abstracts from meetings can be found in the right hand column.

In the interim time between its International Conferences on Friedreich’s Ataxia, FARA helped support the Ataxia Investigators Meeting held in 2006 and 2008.

Summit Meetings

FARA has also convened summit meetings to focus on significant areas of FA research such as cardiology and mitochondrial function. Such meetings facilitate in-depth discussions among experts and advance a specific research need.

Cardiac Summit

During the Cardiac Summit, held in 2007, leading cardiologists and researchers gathered to discuss FA related cardiology issues. One of the primary outcomes of this meeting was the documentation of gaps in knowledge regarding cardiac disease in FA and the assignment of research teams to begin work in these areas. A full list of outcomes can be found in the right hand column. To further support these efforts, FARA and the American Heart Association have entered a partnership agreement to co-fund grants.

Mitochondrial Summit

FARA is also co-sponsoring a Mitochondrial Summit with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, on May 20-21, 2008, to share and discuss approaches, insights, and mechanisms that suggest new therapeutics for mitochondrial neurodegenerative diseases.