Neuromuscular Awareness Events September Roundup
September is a busy month for neuromuscular disease awareness with several awareness days as well as month-long campaigns taking place. Take a moment to learn about the different events that took place during September, and how different organizations and individuals raised awareness, educated, and took action for these different NMDs.
Duchenne Awareness Month and World Duchenne Awareness Day
The Government of Canada recognized September 7 as World Duchenne Awareness Day (WDAD) and declared the month of September as Duchenne Awareness Month across the country. Jesse’s Journey hosted a 30-day social media challenge, and the Duchenne community answered the call by reaching monumental levels of awareness for this rare disease. Learn more about the success of this program, along with a recap of the WDAD highlights here.
Newborn Screening (NBS) Awareness Month
September marks NBS month, during which MDC issued its second and final call for proposals to add Spinal Muscular Atrophy to NBS panels. The call is still open, and you can learn more here.
International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day
In honour of Rare Disease Day 2021, a global alliance of myotonic dystrophy-focused organisations have, for the first time, united to announce the declaration of International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day to be observed each September 15th. As members of the global alliance, discover how the NMD4C and its partners engaged in this year’s event.
- Through the combined advocacy efforts of MDC, the NMD4C, and Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) Support Group Facilitator and NMD4C Investigator Teresa Buffone, the Province of Manitoba has officially proclaimed September 15th, 2021 to be International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day.
- Muscular Dystrophy Canada hosted a one-hour webinar ‘Myotonic Dystrophy 101’ presented by NMD4C investigator Dr. Cynthia Gagnon, which introduced the basic facts and latest research about Myotonic dystrophy. You can find a recording of this webinar here.
- The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation aired a Special Program on September 15th, to honor and celebrate the global DM community. You can watch the full, one-hour recording here.
The NMD4C would also like to recognize the achievement of Alexandra LeBoeuf, the Canadian winner of the International DM Awareness Logo Design Contest! Read more about Alexandra and her logo design here.
Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) Awareness Day
LGMD Awareness Day is intended to be an annual collaborative effort to globally raise awareness and knowledge of individuals living with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and this September 30th, 2021 saw the seventh annual worldwide celebration of the event.
To celebrate LGMD Awareness Day, Muscular Dystrophy Canada prepared some fast facts about LGMD:
Charcot-Marie Tooth (CMT) Disease Awareness Month
This September marked CMT awareness month, an opportunity to educate the world about this disease which affects three million people worldwide.
Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s annual Walk4CMT took place in September and in addition to raising awareness about and for the CMT community, they are excited to share that the event exceeded its fundraising goal, raising over $100,000! These funds will continue to support the work of MDC with the CMT community, specifically investing in research and supporting Canadians with CMT with programs and services (e.g., System Navigation). Watch a recording from September 18th’s live Walk4CMT event, featuring stories from the CMT community, updates from researchers and much more. The recording is available here.
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New Publication from the NMD4C Clinical Trial Network Strengthens Trial Capacity in Canada
We are pleased to share a new publication from the NMD4C Clinical Trial Network led by Kerri Lynn Schellenberg, Homira Osman, Maria Masnata, Rhiannon Hicks, Corinne Kagan, Ana Stosic, Stacey Lintern, Erin Beattie, Drs. Hanns Lochmüller, Craig Campbell, and Jean K Mah. This work focuses on the implementation of a coordinated Canadian neuromuscular clinical trial network to enhance trial readiness, capacity, and access in rare disease research.
Canadian-Led Phase II Studies Advance Vamorolone Evidence in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
NMD4C investigators contributed to two phase II studies evaluating vamorolone in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy across early childhood and adolescence, demonstrating safety, favorable pharmacokinetics, and potential efficacy. Led by Dr. Jean Mah and conducted across Canadian clinical trial sites with national and industry collaborators, the findings supported Health Canada approval of vamorolone as the first treatment for DMD in Canada. Leaders from both the clinical and patient advocacy communities, including Defeat Duchenne Canada, highlighted the impact of collaboration among patients, families, clinicians, and researchers in advancing care and improving access to new therapies.
Advancing AFC in Neuromuscular Medicine: Program Launch & September Workshop
The Royal College has approved National Training Standards for the AFC in Neuromuscular Medicine, creating a formal pathway to recognize enhanced competence with the DRCPSC credential. This designation establishes a national training standard, supports portable certification, and strengthens clinical capacity across Canada. PGME offices can now apply to offer accredited AFC programs, with a goal of five programs submitting applications by the end of 2026.