The Migraine Patient Registry

If knowledge is power, will knowledge of migraine patients be power to find a cure?

That’s what the American Migraine Foundation is hoping. The announcement was recently made that the foundation wants to make a database with information on every migraine patient. This would include genetic materials (such as saliva), blood and other fluid samples, and brain images.

These types of registries actually aren’t unusual for other diseases. Take for example the Canadian Epilepsy Database and Registry (CEDAR), the Colorado Pediatric Partners Asthma Registry, and the Australian Lupus Registry.

Once information is collected, research is done to find out more about the diseases and treat them more effectively.

Foundation chair Dr. David W. Dodick puts it this way:

The goal of the American Migraine Foundation is to develop a multicenter patient registry and biorepository that will transform migraine research and lead to substantial treatment breakthroughs. We hope to be able to assemble a treasure trove of data that researchers can access to find powerful clues to migraine causes and treatments. The data collected in the registry will also help treatment providers tailor existing therapies to specific types of migraine.

This kind of research is already being done, of course. But with more information comes better research.

In case the collection of all this intimate information sounds a little creepy, it should be noted that the registry will not be collecting personal information along with you saliva sample.

Money is currently being raised for what is being called the “Migraine Patient Registry and Biorepository“. For more information about the initiative, read about the American Migraine Patient Registry here.

See the original press release here.