Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by misfolding and aggregation of the neuronal protein a-synuclein in the brain. Patients typically develop this movement disorder in their 50s and 60s and live with symptoms for 6-10 years before ultimately succumbing to disease. MSA patients often exhibit similar symptoms to the related disorder Parkinson’s disease, but they are unresponsive to the therapeutic interventions that help Parkinson’s patients manage their symptoms (i.e., dopamine replacement therapy and deep brain stimulation). The combination of the quickly progressing nature of MSA and the lack of treatment options qualifies patients to apply for Compassionate Allowance to accelerate review of Social Security Disability applications (Parkinson’s patients are also eligible for Disability, but not Compassionate Allowance). This federal support is important for families and caretakers of MSA patients as the disease progresses and shuts down the body’s ability to regulate day-to-day functions. Unfortunately, there are currently no tests available to definitively diagnose MSA in a living patient, which results in many misdiagnosed MSA patients failing to qualify for Social Security and healthcare benefits to support their care. My laboratory is focused on using our expertise in MSA pathogenesis to develop diagnostic tools for MSA patients. We have some exciting and promising ideas for how to accomplish this objective, and my goal as a Family Research Scholar is to secure the federal funding required to pursue the project. We hope that in the near future, our research will translate into important clinical tools that directly benefit MSA patients and their families.