The National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), and Ataxia UK held the inaugural International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR) on November 1-4, 2022 in Addison TX. The international scope of ataxia research was well represented by over 458 conference attendees from nineteen countries. We are grateful for such meaningful participation from all aspects of the research community including 177 attendees from academia, 111 attendees from industry, 156 junior investigators, and representatives from nine patient advocacy groups.

We were energized by the dynamic exchange of ideas during the oral and poster presentations as well as during the flash talks, mentoring sessions, and workshops. We hope attendees had the opportunity to foster collaborative relationships and left with a renewed sense of purpose in their work.

Click HERE to view the Abstract Book.

Click HERE to view the conference Program.


ICAR Scientific Steering Committee

Stefan Pulst, MD, Dr. med., University of Utah - Co-Chair
Massimo Pandolfo, MD, F.A.A.N., F.E.A.N., McGill University – CO-Chair
Roy Sillitoe, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine
Andrea Németh, DPhil, FRCP, University of Oxford
Deborah Hall, MD, PhD, Rush University
Ian Harding, PhD, Monash University
Lauren Moore, PhD, National Ataxia Foundation
Julie Greenfield, PhD, Ataxia UK
Elisabetta Soragni, PhD, Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance


Trainee Organizing Committee

Gabriela Bolzan, MD, PhD, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Ronald Buijsen, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
Mohamed Elsaey, Dr. rer. nat., Suez Canal University, Egypt
Elisabetta Indelicato, MD, PhD, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
Layne Rodden, PhD, Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA)
Celeste Suart, PhD Candidate, McMaster University, Canada

As ataxia patient organizations, our shared mission is to find treatments and cures for the ataxias. We believe creating a collaborative research environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion for all our stakeholders and partners is essential to achieving this mission. We are committed to equality of opportunity and insist that all those engaging in our community are treated with dignity and respect. We will ensure this at ICAR by fostering an environment that embraces diversity and inclusion and celebrates the contributions of all.