Ataxia Telangiectasia Children's Project

Mission Statement

The Mission of the A-T Children's Project The Ataxia Telangiectasia Children's Project, better known as the A-T Children's Project, was founded in late 1993 by a family in Florida with two young sons who have A-T. It is a public, tax-exempt, non-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all gifts and donations to the Project are tax deductible. The A-T Children's Project was formed to raise funds through events and contributions from corporations, foundations and friends. These funds are then used to accelerate first-rate, international scientific research aimed at finding a cure and improving the lives of all children with ataxia-telangiectasia. Our Objectives * To encourage and support excellent laboratory research that will accelerate the discovery of a cure or treatment for ataxia-telangiectasia while clarifying the causes of cancer and other diseases. * To encourage, award and closely coordinate competitive research grants to first-rate investigators using a peer-review board comprised of leading scientists and physicians. * To organize and sponsor workshops and symposiums in order to encourage cooperation among laboratories and to generate new research strategies. * To increase public awareness and educate physicians to ensure accurate and timely diagnosis of A-T. * To develop and maintain an international patient registry of A-T patients so that up-to-date clinical information about A-T patients can be obtained for researchers, and so that when a treatment is developed for clinical trial, all patients can be reached through their physicians. * To establish and support a clinical center and information clearinghouse at a top-rated, world-class medical center for the evaluation of A-T patients by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, and for the accumulation of experience in managing the many facets of A-T such as the ataxia, cancer and immune problems. * To develop quantitative, objective end points for the measurement of the disease's progression for use in evaluating the efficacy of any drug or intervention. * To create and maintain a tissue/cell bank with objective, neutral oversight and control in order to ensure free access to existing and new researchers of A-T patient specimens.