The KDA 's 2023 Goals

The KDA’s Board of Directors has approved the following goals for 2023

• Raise money to fund research grants and support our cause (a goal of $200,000).
• Include one or more Fellowships in the 2023 Grants Program.
• Collaborate with KD/UK on a joint KDA-KD/UK conference and educational symposium in Fall 2023.
• Support the efforts of the NIH and other research labs that are dedicated to understanding KD and finding a cure or treatment for KD.
• Publish quarterly KDA email updates on what is happening in the world of Kennedy’s Disease. This includes information about fundraisers, research, the annual conference, and other information that supports the KD community.
• Build a new KDA website and continue to provide updates about research and clinical trials, and emphasize the ‘KDA Family’ theme.
• Support clinical trials by maintaining relationships with pharmaceutical companies and sharing information with the KD community.

In addition, we will:

• Seek new sources of funding, including but not limited to foundations aimed at helping people with rare diseases. 
• Expand the talent pool of the KDA volunteers (board members and/or leaders) to include people who can broaden the social media reach of the KDA and expand KDA's fundraising efforts. 
• Expand on the successful Carrier Group Zoom sessions to include sessions for KD Men and Caregivers. 
• Continue and expand our working relationships with counterpart advocacy groups in the UK, Australia, Italy, Japan, and other countries.

The NIH Launches a New Kennedy's Disease Study

The NIH has launched a new study titled "Clinical, Molecular and Imaging Biomarkers in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA)". The study is underway and men with Kennedy's Disease can volunteer for this study. The object ot the study is to identify measurements that change over time in SBMA, including tests of muscle strength and function, as well as measurements of muscle and fat size. For more information regarding this study, please click here. To watch a video presentation of the study, click here. Candidates can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at NIH for information or to volunteer for this study. Angela's email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

New KD Global Registry

We need your help! We’ve heard from patients and researchers about the need for a patient registry for Kennedy’s Disease also known as Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy - SBMA. We’re pleased to announce that the KD/SBMA registry is now ready for your data!

The KDA is partnering with the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford Health (Sanford CoRDS) to create a global registry of KD/SBMA patients and carriers. This registry will facilitate KD/SBMA research and will be used to recruit patients for clinical trials. Most important, a robust registry will provide a roadmap for investigators and will help them develop improved treatments and potentially a cure for this debilitating rare disease. Here are a few important things for you to know about the KD/SBMA registry.

• The KD patient registry was developed jointly by NIH and the KDA.
• KD patients and carriers are all urged to enter your data. There is a separate form for carriers.
• Entering data into the registry requires completing the CoRDS profile and two questionnaires, the CoRDS standard questionnaire and the KD/SBMA questionnaire. The entire process should take about 30-45 minutes (less for carriers) and does not have to be done all at one sitting.
• Data can be entered into the registry online, on paper, or by phone with Sanford CoRDS. To learn more, click here.  
• There is no cost for entering your data into the registry.
• To protect your privacy, each participant is assigned a Global Unique Identifier that enables de-identification (anonymization) of the data when shared with researchers approved by Sanford Health’s Scientific Advisory Board. Your name and other identifying information will not be shared.
• Providing your consent to give KDA access to your data will allow us to contact you for studies and clinical trials and help improve our understanding about where to drive our research.
• KDA’s goal is to make CoRDS the global repository for KD/SBMA patients. The registry is compliant with U.S. Federal law and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
• Please enroll either online or by phone today.  To enroll simply call CoRDS at 1-877-658-9192 and they will enter data on your behalf or visit their website.

Thank you!

The Kennedy Disease Association Board of Directors

 THE KDA NEWSLETTER 

Click on the icon below to acces the KDA newsletters