Friedreich's ataxia is a multisystem disorder of mitochondrial function affecting primarily the heart and brain. Patients experience a severe cardiomyopathy that can progress to heart failure and death. Although the gene defect is known, the precise function of the deficient mitochondrial protein, frataxin, is not known and limits therapeutic development. 

Cardiomyopathy of Friedreich's Ataxia: Use of Mouse Models to Understand Human Disease and Guide Therapeutic Development