Breakthroughs in Ataxia Research featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy

It has been an exciting few years for Ataxia discovery and treatment development, including the identification of a genetic mutation for one type of Ataxia. Speakers will review some of the biggest recent breakthroughs with you. This session will also include a special appearance from Bill Nye (yes, the Science Guy!). He will briefly share his family’s personal experience searching for an Ataxia diagnosis and their research participation that helped lead to the gene discovery for SCA27b.

Speakers: Dr. Hayley McLoughlin, Dr. Celeste Suart and Bill Nye

Speaker Bios

Dr. Hayley McLoughlin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology with a secondary appointment in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Michigan. She completed her PhD Neuroscience training at the University of Iowa in Bev Davidson’s laboratory (2009-2013). She relocated to the University of Michigan and rose through the Department of Neurology ranks: first as a Postdoc (2014-2016 in Hank Paulson’s Lab), then as faculty on the research track (2016-2021), and now as an Assistant Professor on the tenure track (2021-present). Her lab is focused on elucidating disease mechanisms, developing gene therapy approaches, and discovering disease biomarkers for hereditary ataxias. She has a passion for science outreach and is a co-founder and managing editor for SCAsource. Outside of the lab she enjoys family time, cooking, and burning off stress with power tools and home improvement projects.

Dr. Celeste Suart received her PhD at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Her laboratory research focuses on DNA repair in Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1, specifically looking at how ataxin-1 can help or hinder the repair process. Outside of the lab, she studies accessible teaching practices and graduate-level education. Celeste is also the Managing Editor of SCAsource, a publication which aims to make ataxia research news more accessible for patients and family members.

Bill Nye is an American science educator, engineer, comedian, television presenter, inventor, keynote speaker and New York Times bestselling author. Today, Nye is a respected champion of scientific literacy who has challenged opponents of evidence-based education and policy on climate change, evolution and critical thinking. He currently serves as CEO of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest and most influential non-governmental space organization.

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As interest continues to grow from the pharmaceutical industry in developing drugs to treat Ataxia, we believe that collaboration among researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and Ataxia patients is at a critical moment. Each of these groups must work together, as partners, to advance progress toward better patient care and more effective treatments for Ataxia. 2023 AAC was a place to connect, learn, and take action toward accelerating treatment development!