MDC Announce Recipients of 2024 Neuromuscular Clinical and Translational Research Grants

Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) recently announced the recipients of its annual Neuromuscular Research Grants competition. Through these grants, MDC is investing $900,000 into clinical and translational research projects focused on managing healthcare, understanding diagnosis and disease progression, enhancing care, discovering novel treatments and therapies and moving research towards the development of cures. 

This year, the funded studies focus on Spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, immune-mediated myopathies, autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) and cross-cutting research with findings that will inform a wide range of neuromuscular disorders. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of their supporters, MDC was able to invest $63,630 towards an innovative natural history study led by NMD4C investigator Dr. Hernan Gonorazky on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, bringing the organization’s investment in research projects close to $1 million. 

Congratulations to NMD4C investigators Dr. Rashmi Kothary and Dr. Gerald Pfeffer, whose respective projects “Maternal transfer of AAV vectors: a minimally invasive approach to deliver SMN-gene therapy for SMA” and “Single nucleus RNAseq biomarkers in adult-onset muscle diseases” are among those that received MDC funding. 

Read the press release from MDC for the full list of funded projects!

 

MDC award $900 000 towards clinical and translational research projects in 2024.

Read next...

Spinal muscular atrophy outcome measures training registration open for December 3rd event.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Outcome Measures Workshop (English Language)

The NMD4C will be hosting an English-language interactive training workshop on standardizing assessment practices in SMA outcome measures. 

Canadian Neuromuscular Community of Practice

NMD4C Launch Survey to Assess Familiarity and Experience in Outcome Measures in NMDs

As we anticipate novel treatments for other neuromuscular conditions, we would like to understand your familiarity and experience with the outcome measures in clinical trials underway or for treatments for NMDs approved in other jurisdictions through a short survey.

IDMC-14_steinertaward_Cynthia_4x3

Dr. Cynthia Gagnon Receives 2024 Steinert Award, IDMC-15 Meeting to Take Place in Saguenay 

We are pleased to share that NMD4C steering committee member Dr. Cynthia Gagnon was honoured with a Steinert Award at the recent International Myotonic Dystrophy Consortium Meeting (IDMC-14) in Nijmegen, Netherlands! 

2024 Dr David Green Award winners from MDC

NMD4C Receive Excellence in Service Delivery Award and Network Investigators Honored as part of Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s 2024 Dr David Green Awards

We are excited to share that the NMD4C has been awarded the Excellence in Service Delivery Award, one of the annual Dr David Green Awards presented by Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

NMD4C logo with text reading 'Canadian neuromuscular clinical trials network', MDC and IMHA logos at bottom.

NMD4C Launch Canadian Neuromuscular Clinical Trial Network

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a Canadian neuromuscular clinical trial network (CTN) as a part of our clinical research work.

Event organizers and participants from SMA outcome measures training, March 2024 in Quebec.

Training Session for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists on Outcome Measures in Spinal muscular atrophy hosted by Quebec SMA Network

This past March 23, the Quebec SMA Network (Réseau québécois de l’amyotrophie spinale – RQAS) in collaboration with the NMD4C and Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) hosted an interactive training session for French-speaking physiotherapists and occupational therapists on assessment measures and practices for Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This training gathered clinicians to train and discuss SMA standardized outcome measures and work through current problems/challenges, to improve how these measures often tied to drug reimbursement are conducted.