The Genetic Survey of Dystonia

Latest Update, February 2011

As Previously reported, the tubes (for collecting saliva for analysis) have all been sent out to those who volunteered to give a sample fo eventual testing for one of the various genes known to cause dystonia. We have had over 90% returned and there are only 54 (to date) due still to be returned. If you have not sent your saliva tubes back there is still time - the old deadline was to encourage as many as possible before our AGM - so please return them as soon as possible. If you have lost it or it has been misplaced, please let me know as I have a few spare.

The other good news is that Professor Chinnery has taken possession of the latest DNA testin equipment which has been installed in the past two weeks at the Centre for Life in Newcastle. He has moved his enture department from the old university building into this new facility. This means he will now be able to analyse some of the earlier samples of blood which we have given him over the past few years.

The rest of the samples will have to wait until we have enough money to fund a full-time researcher, either a PhD student or a post-doctoral scientist for several years in order to get the full DNA sorted within our research group. We have over 2000 people registered and although a few have died from natural causes, we still ahve enough to hopefully make a breakthrough and who wnows, we might even discover a new gene which causes dystonia.

Myself and Professor Chinner are currently exploring the different funding sources available throughout the world and we should have an answer for all our reads within the next few months. Please continue to watch this space............

Dr Butler

Dystonia Epidemiologist