Childhood Ataxia Telangiectasia Neuroimaging Assessment Project Part 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CATNAP-2: Childhood Ataxia Telangiectasia Neuroimaging Assessment Project, Part 2
IRAS ID
242030
Contact name
Robert A Dineen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) is an inherited condition that leads to nervous system problems, particularly loss of coordination of movement that progresses through childhood. In the CATNAP study we carried out brain MRI scans on 24 children with A-T and 24 without A-T. We found that measurements on the brain scan were markedly different between participants with and without A-T and some measurements showed a close relationship to the severity of the nervous system problems. \nWe now plan to invite the CATNAP participants to return for another scan and assessment to show how the measurements have changed over 3 years compared to healthy children, and to see whether changes in MRI measurements match changes in the severity of the nervous system problems. This will give us unique insights into how brain structure and function changes as children with A-T grow up. \nWe also hope to scan some very young children (3-6-years old) without sedation or anaesthetic. This is very challenging, as young children can get anxious and move a lot, but we think that careful preparation by a play specialist using an MRI simulator will allow us to scan very young children and make the key measurements on the MRI scans. \nStudy findings will be communicated to the scientific community via one major publication and several anticipated secondary publications in high impact peer reviewed scientific journals related to paediatrics / paediatric neurology or clinical neuroimaging. Results will also be presented to the A-T scientific community at specialist meetings such as the A-T Clinical Research Network meeting, where we presented results from CATNAP. In addition we will present study progress and findings to people affected by A-T at events such as the A-T Family Weekend and via fundraising videos or publications produced by the study funders.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0078
Date of REC Opinion
12 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion