By Anna Shavers
The National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) announces the recognition of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Disease at UF Health as a NAF Ataxia Center of Excellence (CoE), making it the first CoE in the state of Florida and one of 15 nationwide.
Matthew Burns, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology, and Sub Subramony, M.D., professor of neurology, co-direct the ataxia clinic at the Fixel Institute. The clinic, which originally opened in 2009 under the leadership of Dr. Subramony, serves patients across the state of Florida and across the United States.
Becoming a NAF Ataxia Center of Excellence highlights the clinic’s dedication to advancing the understanding and management of ataxias.
“We are deeply honored by the National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence designation and feel that it represents our enduring commitment to the highest level of collaborative and multidisciplinary patient care, education, advocacy, and research into therapies for patients with ataxias,” said Burns.
Ataxias refer to a collection of disorders characterized by the progressive loss of coordination and balance. The neurological condition affects thousands of individuals worldwide, often leading to a decline in mobility, speech impairments and a diminished quality of life.
The Fixel Institute, known for its innovative research and patient-centered approach, has long been at the forefront of neurological disease studies. Its multidisciplinary team of neurologists, geneticists, researchers, and therapists have made groundbreaking contributions to the field of neurological care and research.
“This center of excellence designation, in the collaboration with other centers and the National Ataxia Foundation, allows us to deliver the highest and most complete level of care and research to the greatest number of ataxia patients in need and elevates the important work we all do for our patients and their families,” said Burns.