HDSA Invests $1.9M in 65 Centers of Excellence, Spanning 35 States
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) will contribute nearly $1.9 million to its Centers of Excellence program this year, growing it by one site plus two regional partner sites.
These additions bring to 55 the number of grant-funded Centers of Excellence located across the U.S. and to 10 its partner sites. The society’s 65 comprehensive and expert Huntington’s disease (HD) care facilities span 35 states plus the District of Columbia.
HDSA funding will help people affected by Huntington’s, a particularly complex genetic disorder, gain access to multidisciplinary specialized care and potentially relevant clinical studies.
Oregon Health & Science University in Portland is the latest to be named an HDSA Center of Excellence.
The 10 regional partner sites include the newly designated University of Pennsylvania, which partners with St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem, and the University of South Florida, which partners with the Central Florida Center for Huntington’s Disease, with locations in both Winter Park and Orlando. Regional partner sites are so named because they collaborate with area clinics that the HDSA supports.
“The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is committed to supporting the best possible care for families affected by Huntington’s disease,” Victor Sung, MD, chair of HDSA’s national board of trustees, said in a press release. “Continuing to expand the reach of the HDSA Centers of Excellence network allows more families across the country to have access to these world-class clinics.”
Each Center of Excellence site is staffed by psychiatrists, neurologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals experienced in treating Huntington’s and who work alongside families to help them through the disease journey.
“We are thankful for the incredible work that the clinics provide HD families,” said Louise Vetter, HDSA president and CEO. “It is because of the generosity of the HD community and our partners that we are able to continue to expand and support the very best in HD care.”
The HDSA Centers of Excellence program, which opened in 1998, grew from 20 U.S. centers in 2015 to 50 in 2020, and added another four the following year. Clinics in the U.S. that share the organization’s commitment to high-quality comprehensive care and clinical research access may apply for inclusion in the HDSA program.
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