Dr. Josep Gámez, head of the Peripheral Nervous System group at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), was one of the lecturers of the "http://associaciocatalanaataxies.blogspot.com.es/2015/02/iii-jornada-catalana-dataxies.html" III Catalan Ataxias meeting, organized by the Catalan Association for Ataxias, on January in Barcelona. VHIR researcher talked about the usefulness of functional rating scales for the assessment and follow-up of ataxias, which are a group of rare diseases characterized by a progressive spinal and/or cerebellar degeneration.The participants also discussed the latest studies and clinical trials on these diseases. Some of them were researchers and neurologists from Catalan hospitals such as Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospital Clínic, l’Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Josep Trueta.The meeting was a perfect occasion for networking between patients, their relatives, researchers and clinicians. According to the Catalan Association for Ataxias, nearly 900 people are affected in Catalonia. Patients with ataxia use to have difficulties related to coordination, balance, speech, and can suffer heart problems.