National Ataxia Foundation

National Ataxia Foundation is the leading US-based non-profit dedicated to supporting individuals affected by hereditary and sporadic ataxias, a group of rare, progressive neurological disorders that impair balance, coordination, and speech. These include conditions such as Friedreich’s ataxia, spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1–SCA48+), ataxia-telangiectasia, and multiple system atrophy.

Founded in 1957, NAF has invested more than $20 million in ataxia research and plays a central role in advancing scientific understanding and therapeutic development in the field. It supports major research infrastructure, including the Ataxia Global Initiative biobank and the CRC-SCA clinical trial consortium, and operates an Ataxia Clinical Research Network spanning more than 30 clinical centres.

Beyond research, NAF provides extensive patient and community support. It hosts annual conferences that bring together patients, clinicians, and researchers, maintains more than 60 local chapters across the United States, and offers educational resources for families and healthcare professionals worldwide.