#IARC2017 – Listen to a Discussion of Thursday’s Highlights at World’s Largest Ataxia Conference

In this Facebook Live Chat, reporter Hal Foster — joined by scientists and leaders of groups working to promote research and patient interests in Friedreich’s and other ataxias — looks back at highlights of sessions and other happenings on the second day of IARC 2017 in Pisa, Italy.

IARC is the world’s largest scientific conference into ataxias, with hundreds of researchers, representatives of patient associations, patients and their families members, and leaders of pharmaceutical industries in attendance.

Joining Foster in Thursday’s chat were Filomena D’Agostino, a co-founder of GoFAR, the patient group leading this year’s conference; Angel Martin and Kyle Bryant of FARA; Vijay Chandran, a scientist, and Manuela Corti, a pediatric researcher, both with the University of Florida; and Giovanni Manfredi, a neuroscientist and professor at Cornell University’s medical school.

“I am a mother of two children with Friedreich’s ataxia, so this is why we are here,” said D’Agostino, best known as Mina. “My husband and I created an association based in Italy … GoFAR, but we work at an international level.

“And all we do is for patients. And we’re hoping to come closer to a cure.”

GoFAR, Foster added, has created “one of the most important Friedreich’s ataxia research organizations in the world.”

Friedreich’s Ataxia News has a team of reporters, editors and social media specialists covering IARC 2017, the International Ataxia Research Conference that run through Sept. 30.

You can listen to the discussion here:

https://www.facebook.com/friedreichsataxianews/videos/1963097587050784/