The participation of HD families in the search for treatments and a cure for Huntington’s disease is going global.

Starting in July 2011, registries of HD patients, at-risk individuals, and family members from different parts of the world will be combined into a single database.

Called “Enroll-HD,” this new effort aims to make it easier for scientists to understand HD, identify potential participants in crucial clinical trials, and therefore speed the process of finding therapies and a cure.

The Enroll-HD sponsor, the CHDI Foundation, Inc., released information on the new program on November 19. Backed by an anonymous donor, CHDI is informally known as the “cure Huntington’s disease initiative.” CHDI collaborates with hundreds of scientists from around the world.

Enroll-HD will combine the existing REGISTRY and COHORT studies, which carry out long-term observations of HD-affected and at-risk individuals. These studies operate respectively in Europe and North America/Australia.

REGISTRY is a Europe-wide study run by the EURO-HD Network. Administered by the Huntington’s Study Group, COHORT stands for Cooperative Huntington’s Observational Research Trial. These databases collect information about the genetic status, lifestyle, medical history, and disease progression of patients.

Enroll-HD will also include participants from the newly founded Latin American network of HD-affected families, physicians, and researchers, the Red Latinoamericana de Huntington. Enroll-HD will also obtain information from countries such as Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea.

People already participating in REGISTRY and COHORT will continue to consult with the same physicians at regular appointment times.

To learn more about Enroll-HD, please click on the following link: Enroll-HD Announcement 2010.