North American Mitochondrial Disease Consortium (NAMDC) Patient Registry and Biorepository

Protocol Description

The NAMDC Patient Registry and Bioregistry is a collection of patients with suspected or confirmed mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial diseases comprise a group of relatively rare but very serious genetic disorders. Mitochondria are often called the "powerhouses of the cell" because they provide the energy our cells need to live. Mitochondrial diseases result in poorly functioning mitochondria, and can cause a variety of symptoms including muscle weakness, seizures, intellectual disability, dementia, hearing loss, blindness, strokes, diabetes, and premature death. Research into mitochondrial diseases has been hampered by the low frequency of these disorders and by underdiagnosis by clinicians. This has hindered patient recruitment for research studies and clinical trials. By creating a mechanism for the sharing of patient data and patient contact information, and tissue samples, NAMDC will make it easier to conduct clinical and basic laboratory research and further our understanding of mitochondrial disease.

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Eligibility Criteria

Patients of all ages who have or are suspected to have mitochondrial disease are invited to participate. Deceased patients with mitochondrial disease are also eligible.
Boys: All ages
Girls: All ages

Requirements

With parent/guardian consent, all past, current and future medical records pertaining to their child will become part of the registry. If you participate in the optional biorepository, no new specimens will be collected other than what your doctor requires for your care. In some cases, you may be asked to give a DNA sample through saliva or cheek cells.
Visits: Not applicable
Duration: Not applicable

Status: Open for Enrollment

Primary Investigator

Jerry Vockley, MD, PhD

Contact Information

Danielle Black, 412-692-6893