B.J. Viau,  —

B.J. Viau (View) has been a Huntington’s disease (HD) advocate since his mom’s diagnosis in 1995. B.J. co-founded the HD Youth Organization (HDYO) and most recently in 2022 he launched HD Genetics, which offers a new option for individuals to undergo genetic testing for HD. Professionally BJ has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for the past 10 years in various positions. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two kids. He hopes this column sparks new ideas and challenges people's thinking to help the HD and rare disease community.

Articles by B.J. Viau

How the HEATED Project Can Benefit the Huntington’s Community

As I wrote in a previous column titled, “An Abundance of Huntington’s Disease Info Awaits at Upcoming Virtual Conferences,” there are many ways to learn about the latest and greatest happenings in the HD community. I attended last month’s Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization’s International Young Adult Virtual Congress,…

Got Questions About Joining a Huntington’s Clinical Trial?

There is a robust pipeline of potential therapies for Huntington’s disease (HD), which I’ve discussed in previous columns. All of the current and future clinical trials provide real hope for this community. However, people typically aren’t allowed to participate in two clinical trials at the same time, and…

No Matter Your Hardships, Today Is a Great Day to Be Alive

I’ve lost two moms in my lifetime. My biological mom, Debbie, who was with me for the first 23 years of my life, passed away in 2011 after a 15-year battle with Huntington’s disease (HD). When she was diagnosed, we learned about the progression that inevitably would lead to…

Would You Want to Know If You Have Huntington’s?

Editor’s note: This column briefly mentions the topic of suicide. Please find resources for help at the end of the column. Unlike many rare genetic disorders, Huntington’s disease doesn’t have an approved treatment regimen that will halt, stop, or slow disease progression. However, it is relatively simple to undergo a…

The Value of Consulting a Genetic Counselor During Testing

As I briefly touched on in my previous column, “Opportunities for a Better Genetic Testing Process,” the testing process in the Huntington’s disease community is a bit like the Wild West. Depending on your location, there are so many variables that make going through testing way more stressful than…

Opportunities for a Better Genetic Testing Process

I’ve always tried to stay alert to the needs of the Huntington’s disease community by listening during support groups, learning at conferences and conventions, and following along with the many Huntington’s conversations on social media platforms. One topic that consistently comes up in conversations is genetic testing. Everyone has their…