ESMI
European Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3/Machado-Joseph Disease Initiative
ESMI was funded in the framework of the EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) in partnership with the European Commission (Jpco-fuND). The national funding in Germany is provided by the German Ministery of Education and Research (BMBF, Germany).In addition to Germany with locations in Bonn, Tübingen, Aachen, Essen and Frankfurt, the following countries are represented: Portugal, Great Britain and the Netherlands. There are also collaborations with France, Brazil and the USA. Cooperation with other countries is planned. The study is coordinated by Prof. Thomas Klockgether. He is the director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Neurology at the University Hospital in Bonn and director of clinical research at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE).
Background and aims
The aim of this study is to compile a trial-ready cohort of sufficient size consisting of patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA 3) and first-degree relatives, so-called risk persons, for future drug studies. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA 3) is also known as Machado-Joseph's disease, the most common hereditary ataxia. The causal gene mutation is known, but there is no therapy available yet. A main focus of the study is to identify biomarkers that show the disease severity at a very early stage. These are of particular importance for future drug studies as developmental parameters.
Overview
ESMI brings together a total of 8 cohorts internationally, whose participants are brought together in a common database and examined with the same standardized protocols. Special attention is paid not only to patients who are already ill, but also to so-called high-risk individuals, i. e. first-degree relatives who are also carriers of the triggering gene mutation with a 50% risk.
Course of the study
In addition to the clinical neurological examination, the studies also include blood tests (optionally also cerebrospinal fluid collection) and MRI imaging. In addition, the survey of lifestyle factors such as everyday life activities and the subjective perception of quality of life provides a record of factors that directly describe the everyday constraints caused by the disease.
Further information and contacts can be found here.
Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Klockgether
Status: multi centric, ongoing, recruiting active
Publications
Hübener-Schmid J, Kuhlbrodt K, Peladan J, Faber J, Santana MM, Hengel H, Jacobi H, Reetz K, Garcia-Moreno H, Raposo M, van Gaalen J, Infante J, Steiner KM, de Vries J, Verbeek MM, Giunti P, Pereira de Almeida L, Lima M, van de Warrenburg B, Schöls L, Klockgether T, Synofzik M; European Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type-3/Machado-Joseph Disease Initiative (ESMI) Study Group, Riess O. Polyglutamine-Expanded Ataxin-3: A Target Engagement Marker for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 in Peripheral Blood. Mov Disord. 2021 Nov 16; 36 (11); 2675-2681. doi: 10.1002/mds.28749.
Faber J, Schaprian T, Berkan K, Reetz K, França MC Jr, de Rezende TJR, Hong J, Liao W, van de Warrenburg B, van Gaalen J, Durr A, Mochel F, Giunti P, Garcia-Moreno H, Schoels L, Hengel H, Synofzik M, Bender B, Oz G, Joers J, de Vries JJ, Kang JS, Timmann-Braun D, Jacobi H, Infante J, Joules R, Romanzetti S, Diedrichsen J, Schmid M, Wolz R, Klockgether T. Regional Brain and Spinal Cord Volume Loss in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Mov Disord. 2021 Oct 18; 36(10); 2273-2281. doi: 10.1002/mds.28610.
Wilke C, Haas E, Reetz K, Faber J, Garcia-Moreno H, Santana MM, van de Warrenburg B, Hengel H, Lima M, Filla A, Durr A, Melegh B, Masciullo M, Infante J, Giunti P, Neumann M, de Vries J, Pereira de Almeida L, Rakowicz M, Jacobi H, Schüle R, Kaeser SA, Kuhle J, Klockgether T, Schöls L; SCA3 neurofilament study group, Barro C, Hübener-Schmid J, Synofzik M. Neurofilaments in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: blood biomarkers at the preataxic and ataxic stage in humans and mice. EMBO Mol Med. 2020 Jul 07; 12 (7). doi: 10.15252/emmm.201911803.