Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Introduced in Alberta and Saskatchewan
We are excited to share that through the advocacy efforts of Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC), in the past week both Saskatchewan and Alberta’s provincial governments have implemented newborn screening (NBS) programs for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)!
On February 23rd, Saskatchewan officially expanded their newborn screening panel to include testing for SMA as part of its newborn screening program, and on February 28th Alberta announced that through a pilot project with MDC, newborns will be able to be screened for SMA.
MDC continues to work diligently with donors, provincial governments, partners and supporters to remove barriers so that screening for SMA in Canada is a reality. Read more about MDC’s multi-year, multi-phase endeavour in collaboration with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. to better understand and address barriers for the implementation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
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Announcing the 2026 Neuromuscular Clinical Fellowship Award Recipients
We are excited to share that the 2026 Neuromuscular Clinical Fellowship Awards have been awarded! These fellowships strengthen clinical training in neuromuscular medicine and help prepare the next generation of specialists who will advance neuromuscular care across Canada.
NMD4C Launches Clinical Summer School
We are excited to announce our inaugural Clinical Summer School, happening in Ottawa, Ontario on September 10–11, 2025. The event will feature hands-on workshops designed to complement the NMD4C Royal College–accredited National Neuromuscular Lecture Series and foster engagement among fellows.
New BIND Study Highlights Financial Burden of Neuromuscular Disorders
Celebrating the Publication of the BIND Study.
We are delighted to share that the BIND study, “Financial Toxicity and Its Determinants in Individuals Living With Neuromuscular Diseases,” has been published in Neurology (2025). This is the first of its kind in Canada to document the true costs of living with neuromuscular diseases
National Training Standards Approved for AFC in Neuromuscular Medicine
We’re pleased to announce that the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has granted final approval for the National Training Standards for the Area of Focused Competence (AFC) in Neuromuscular Medicine!
Expanding National Clinical Outcome Assessment Capacity with Train(e)d
NMD4C and MDC have launched Train(e)d. This initiative is part of NMD4C’s broader efforts to build national capacity in outcome measures and natural history research in support of consistent and high-quality clinical assessments across Canada.
Announcing the 2025 Collaborative Research Training Award Recipients!!!
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 NMD4C Collaborative Research Training Awards which supports Canadian trainees in their efforts to advance neuromuscular disease research while strengthening national collaboration among neuromuscular research laboratories.