2026 Basic Research Summer School Application Form

Overview

The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C) will be hosting our third Basic Research Summer School for neuromuscular research trainees from the 8^th to 10^th of June 2026, at the University of Ottawa, led by Dr. Mireille Khacho. The 2.5-day event program will cover an interactive computer session on Bioinformatics and Genetic Reference Populations, Muscle Organoids, Histopathological Basis of Muscle in NMD: From Normal Structure to Pathological Changes on Day 1; 3D Muscle Cultures, Human Muscle Biopsy, ex vivo Muscle Function, Resipher Analysis, and Immuno/histological labelling on Day 2; and Single-Cell Transcriptomics, Muscle Stem Cell Biology, and Image Analysis using FIJI, MiraVision, and NMJ-morph on Day 3.

Language: The 2026 NMD4C Basic Research Summer School will be delivered in English.

Accommodation & Travel Support

Supporting trainees and early career scientists is a key focus of the network, and we are aiming to make this event as accessible as possible for trainees to attend from across Canada. There will be no registration fee, and support will be available for accommodation and travel for non-local participants.

Please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria for attendance, listed here.

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Name(s)*

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Please enter your current role:*

Graduate student (MSc)

Graduate student (PhD)

Postdoctoral research fellow

Other

City*

Research Institution*

Are you a member of the NMD4C?*

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Yes

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Please enter your supervisor's information

Supervisor Name*

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Supervisor Email*

Supervisor Approval Form*

Please upload a filled and signed copy of your Supervisor Approval Form as part of your application to attend the Basic Research Summer School. .docx, .pdf or image files will be accepted. | Download Supervisor Approval Form

Max. file size: 4 MB.

Accommodation and Travel Support

Please indicate your needs below by answering Yes or No to our questions regarding accommodation and travel support during the summer school:

I am not local and will require accommodation during the summer school*

Yes

Note: Accommodation for the nights of June 7, 8 and 9th) and Meals on June 8 and 9th, and the morning of the 10th will be available for all non-local attendees.

I am not local and require travel support to attend summer school*

Yes

Note: Travel support (sufficient to cover all/most of your travel to and from summer school) will be available for all non-local attendees.

Worshop Selection

Some sessions will run concurrently, and you will not be able to attend all sessions offered. Please indicate session preferences below and we will try our best to accommodate them. | View Program

Which session would you prefer to attend on Day 1?*

(A) Tutorial 2: Histopathological Basis of Muscle in NMD: From Normal Structure to Pathological Changes – Dr. Jean-Philippe Leduc-Gaudet OR (B) Interactive Computer Session 1: Bioinformatics and Genetic Reference Populations – Dr. Keir Menzies.

Which session would you prefer to attend on Day 2 (Morning)?*

(A) Workshop 1: 3D Muscle Cultures – Drs. Keir Menzies and Alex Green. OR (B) Workshop 2: Human Muscle Biopsy – Dr. Michael DeLisio

Which session would you prefer to attend on Day 2 (Afternoon)?*

Workshop 3: Muscle Function: Ex Vivo Muscle Function with Dr. Junio Dart, and the Resipher workshop on real-time measurement of cellular oxygen consumption and continuous metabolic monitoring OR Workshop 4: Immuno / Histo Labelling of Muscle Sections – Drs. Sally Spendiff and Jean-Philippe Leduc-Gaudet

Which session would you prefer to attend on Day 3?*

(A) Tutorial 3: Single cell transcriptomics – Dr. Vahab Soleimani | Tutorial 4: Analysis of muscle stem cell function and muscle regeneration – Dr. Mireille Khacho | 3D Muscle Cultures Workshop Follow-up: Students checking on their muscle cultures from the previous day Drs. Keir Menzies & Alex Green. OR (B) Interactive Computer Session 2: Image analysis using FIJI, MiraVision, and NMJmorph. – Drs. Sally Spendiff & Jean-Philippe Leduc-Gaudet

General Research Information

What neuromuscular disease type(s) are the focus of your research? (i.e. SMA, DMD, etc.)*

Please provide a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) on why you wish to attend the 2026 NMD4C Basic Research Summer School, including a short justification on how the summer school topics would be beneficial for your training.*

Please provide a short description (1-2 sentences) of your research.

Attendees will give 2-min flash talks at the beginning of summer school to introduce themselves and provide an overview of their research interests.

Have you obtained, or will you be able to obtain, a biosafety training certificate before the start date of summer school?

To participate in the hands-on workshops, uOttawa may require you to complete biosafety training at your own institution and will require you to provide a copy of the certificate before the workshop.

Yes

Please upload your Curriculum Vitae*

Maximum 4 pages, PDF attachment. Please ensure your CV includes your education, research experience, professional affiliations and activities, publications, presentations and awards.

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 64 MB.

Demographic Questions

In accordance with the network’s commitment to EDII, we strive to create an open, inclusive attendee group reflective of the geographical representation, and the diversity of the NM trainee population in Canada. Should you choose not to answer any of the questions below, this will not negatively impact your application.

Data Privacy

Any information you choose to share with us will be used only by the NMD4C Basic Science Summer School Organizers and the coordinating staff and will not be shared either publicly or privately with any other members of the NMD4C. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our communications coordinator Lola Owoeye at

What gender do you identify as?

Man

Woman

Non-binary

I prefer not to answer

Other

Your pronouns are:

He/Him

She/Her

They/Them

I prefer not to answer

Other

Do you identify as Indigenous, i.e. First Nation (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit)?

Yes

I prefer not to answer

The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour". Do you identify as a member of a visible minority in Canada?

Learn More info About the Employment Equity Act

Yes

Prefer not to answer

Do you identify as a person with a disability? That is persons who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which may hinder their full and effective participation in the workplace or society on an equal basis with others.

Yes

Prefer not to disclose

Please indicate your citizenship:

Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident

International (inc. US, UK, etc)

If you selected “International” in the previous question, please specify your country:

Our websites and training platforms will be undergoing maintenance from December 22 - 26 and 29 - 31, 2025. During these days, access may be limited.

NMD4C: The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada

Overview

Accommodation & Travel Support

Please enter your contact information

Please enter your supervisor's information

Accommodation and Travel Support

Worshop Selection

General Research Information

Demographic Questions

Data Privacy

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