International Congress for Ataxia Research 2026

Ataxias and Beyond:
Shared Pathways, Shared Progress

Atlanta, GA | 10-13 November 2026

Registration and abstract submission to open March 2026!

The Scientific Steering Committee for the 2026 International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR), to be held November 10-13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA is inviting expressions of interest for members of the Trainee Organizing Committee (TOC).

Hosted by the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), Ataxia Global Initiative (AGI), and Ataxia UK, ICAR will cover aspects of cerebellar function, neurodegeneration, and treatment of ataxias, and provide ample opportunities to network with scientists, clinicians, and representatives from industry and patient groups.

Keynote Speaker:

Timothy Miller, PhD

Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Neurology, co-director of the ALS Center

Washington University School of Medicine

Bio

Timothy Miller, M.D., Ph.D. is Vice Chair of Research for the department of Neurology, co-director of the ALS Center and the David Clayson Professor of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His group focuses on developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and tauopathies. Dr. Miller has pioneered work with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and has led successful ASO clinical trials in SOD1-related ALS and developed an ASO therapy for tauopathies. His work has received several distinguished awards for innovation and Dr. Miller was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023.

Speakers:

Sonia Vallabh, PhD

Director, Prion Therapeutic Science

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Bio

Sonia Vallabh co-runs a prion research laboratory at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard along with her husband, Eric Minikel. She earned her PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences from Harvard Medical School in 2019. Sonia and Eric left their previous careers to devote their lives to biomedical research after learning in 2011 that Sonia had inherited from her mother a mutation that causes genetic prion disease, a rapidly fatal and currently untreatable neurodegenerative disease that typically strikes in midlife. At the Broad Institute, Sonia works on prion disease drug discovery, with a focus on lowering the amount of prion protein in the brain. She also works on biomarkers, natural history and other tools to enable meaningful clinical trials, including in presymptomatic people at risk.

Stephan Zuchner, PhD

Professor of Human Genetics and Neurology; Chief Genomics Officer

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Bio

Stephan Züchner, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Human Genetics and Neurology in the role of Chief Genomics Officer at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He received his degrees from the University RWTH Aachen, Germany and an honorary doctoral degree from the Semmelweis Medical School in Budapest. His research interests are focused on identifying strong genetic variation associated with disease. His lab has been involved in identifying over 100 neuromuscular disease genes, such as the neuropathy genes MFN2 and SORD. More recently he has made significant contributions to ataxia phenotypes and repeat expansion disorders, helping to discover RFC1, FGF14, ABCD3 and other loci. His lab also works on basic mechanisms and the genome biology of short tandem repeat loci. His team has recently developed machine learning and AI tools that already have supported gene identifications. All this is directed towards the Genomics-to-Therapy concept, whereby progress in genomics will directly, and at times rapidly, lead to therapeutic options to be tested in clinical trials. A prime example is the now widespread use of 4-AP by SCA27B patients, introduced only months after the initial publication of the FGF14-GAA repeat expansion. Dr. Zuchner also leads the advanced GENESIS genome database for rare diseases and ataxia patients and has leadership and advisory roles in ClinGen, UDN/UDN-Foundation, CMT Association, All of Us Research Project, and Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Alexandra Durr, MD PhD

Pr (PU-PH, MD, PhD)

Paris Brain Institute

Bio

Alexandra Durr is a full professor of Human Genetics, trained in Neurology at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. Together with Sandrine Humbert she heads their team for research: NeuroGen: Brain development and dysfunction in neurogenetic diseases at the Paris Brain Institute in Paris. She coordinates the National Reference center for Rare Diseases Neurogenetics with a large network through France and internationally (SPATAX , SCANPOP networks). She has been developing translational neurogenetics for many years, based on a thorough clinical expertise that allowed her to identify the molecular bases of spinocerebellar ataxias and rare movements disorders. She worked with premanifest individuals, i.e. mutation carriers without clinical signs of the disease, since 1992, pioneering the first presymptomatic structure for neurogenetic diseases in France. In her team they combine expertise in cell biology of mouse and human neurons, modelling of disease in vitro and mice, analysis of biomarker signatures in premanifest cohorts of individuals with rare neurogenetic diseases and conduct clinical trials with target molecules. The ultimate goal is to develop early interventions that prevent these diseases from manifesting in the first place.

2026 ICAR Venue

Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center

2450 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339

2026 Event - Important Dates

Registration and Abstract Submission to open in March 2026

Scientific Steering Committee

Marek Napierala, PhD

UT Southwestern, USA – Chair

Vikram Shakkottai, MD, PhD

UT Southwestern, USA - Co-Chair

Bernard Brais, MD, PhD

McGill University, Canada

Sanjay Bidichandani, PhD

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA

Gulin Oz, PhD

University of Minnesota, USA

Hélène Puccio, PhD

Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France

Matthis Synofzik, MD, PhD

University Tübingen, Germany

Bart van de Warrenburg, MD, PhD

Radboud University Medical Center, The Netherlands

Julie Greenfield, PhD

Ataxia UK, UK

Lauren Moore, PhD

NAF, USA

Elisabetta Soragni, PhD

FARA, USA

Trainee Organizing Committee

Jacen Emerson

University of Michigan

PhD Candidate

Pablo Iruzubieta

Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University

Postdoctoral fellow

Marnie Maddock

University of Wollongong

PhD Candidate

Marta Moya Jodar

University of Oxford

Postdoctoral fellow

Federica Pilotto

Institut NeuroMyoGène, University of Lyon

Postdoctoral fellow

Clara Rentz

Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine

Postdoctoral fellow

International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR)

2024 Conference Recap

Ataxia UK, National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) and Ataxia Global Initiative (AGI) partnered to host the International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR) 2024 which took place in London from 12th - 15th November 2024. This was the biggest ICAR yet, with 600 in-person attendees and 50 online attendees, from 32 countries, including researchers, clinicians, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry and patient organisation representatives. The congress brought together researchers from the ataxia field to share knowledge through talks, workshops, debates and poster presentations. Around 350 scientific research posters were presented, and over 80 talks were given.

ICAR 2024 included sessions on disease mechanisms, models of the ataxias, and preclinical and clinical research, showcasing many innovations in the field of ataxias, from gene therapies to new measures of ataxia progression. Workshops covered topics including imaging, AI tools for research and patient communications. There was also a panel discussion with people affected by ataxia, and an interactive debate session on controversial ataxia research topics.

The full program organized by our Scientific Steering Committee is available to view here.

The 2024 Abstract Book is available to view here.

A program for junior/trainee researchers was organized by a Trainee Organizing Committee, which included career mentoring sessions, networking opportunities and flash talks.

We are grateful to the 14 pharmaceutical companies and two patient advocacy organisations whose sponsorship made ICAR 2024 possible.

To receive updates about ICAR 2026, you may sign up to the mailing lists of Ataxia UK, NAF, FARA or AGI. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact: jamie.dean@curefa.org

4.6 out of 5 stars conference rating

of survey respondents said that they found the conference 'extremely useful' or 'very useful' for advancing their work.

of respondents said that they think it is 'very likely' or 'likely' that the new contacts they made at the conference will enhance their work.

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Partnerships

Our Partners

The International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR) is made possible through collaboration with leading organizations dedicated to advancing ataxia research and improving the lives of those affected. Together, we are driving innovation, fostering global connections, and accelerating progress toward treatments and cures.

We are proud to partner with organizations that share our vision for a world without ataxia.

Interested in becoming a 2026 Sponsor?

Learn more about ICAR sponsorships.

Sponsorship Information

International Congress for Ataxia Research 2026

Ataxias and Beyond: Shared Pathways, Shared Progress

Atlanta, GA | 10-13 November 2026

Keynote Speaker:

Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Neurology, co-director of the ALS Center

Speakers:

Director, Prion Therapeutic Science

Professor of Human Genetics and Neurology; Chief Genomics Officer

Pr (PU-PH, MD, PhD)

2026 ICAR Venue

2026 Event - Important Dates

Registration and Abstract Submission to open in March 2026

Scientific Steering Committee

Marek Napierala, PhD

UT Southwestern, USA – Chair

Vikram Shakkottai, MD, PhD

UT Southwestern, USA - Co-Chair

Bernard Brais, MD, PhD

McGill University, Canada

Sanjay Bidichandani, PhD

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA

Gulin Oz, PhD

University of Minnesota, USA

Hélène Puccio, PhD

Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France

Matthis Synofzik, MD, PhD

University Tübingen, Germany

Bart van de Warrenburg, MD, PhD

Radboud University Medical Center, The Netherlands

Julie Greenfield, PhD

Ataxia UK, UK

Lauren Moore, PhD

NAF, USA

Elisabetta Soragni, PhD

FARA, USA

Trainee Organizing Committee

Jacen Emerson

University of Michigan

Pablo Iruzubieta

Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University

Marnie Maddock

University of Wollongong

Marta Moya Jodar

University of Oxford

Federica Pilotto

Institut NeuroMyoGène, University of Lyon

Clara Rentz

Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine

International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR)

2024 Conference Recap

4.6 out of 5 stars conference rating

of survey respondents said that they found the conference 'extremely useful' or 'very useful' for advancing their work.

of respondents said that they think it is 'very likely' or 'likely' that the new contacts they made at the conference will enhance their work.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Partnerships

Our Partners

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Ataxias and Beyond:
Shared Pathways, Shared Progress