NMD4C: The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada

Our network continues to grow, collaborate, and push the field forward, and these 2025 publications highlight the impact our community is making together: 

Building Capacity for Patient Engagement in Neuromuscular Disease Research:  

This open‑access publication introduces imPORTND, the first patient‑oriented research (POR) training program tailored to neuromuscular diseases. Co‑developed by NMD4C investigators – clinicians, and researchers – with patient‑partners, the program addresses gaps in POR training and supports meaningful, accessible engagement across the neuromuscular research community. Authored by Patricia Mortenson, Homira Osman, Erin Beattie, Corinne Kagan, Victoria Larocca, Claudia Maltais, Linda Niksic, Margo Thompson, and Kathryn Selby. The paper outlines the work of our Expert Patient Capacity Working Group, who developed a comprehensive table of patient‑oriented research resources to identify existing gaps and guide the creation of the imPORTND modules. This publication highlights the collaborative process behind building the program and the importance of strengthening patient‑partner capacity in neuromuscular research.

We would like to thank all authors and patient‑partners involved in developing the imPORTND training modules for their incredible work and for making this paper possible.

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Assessing the socio-economic burden of inherited and inflammatory neuromuscular diseases (A BIND Study): 

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2nd NMD4C Basic Research Summer School Report:  

Based on our a look back at our 2024 summer school, at York University in Toronto, as reported by NMD4C members — including Lead Investigator, Christopher G.R. Perry, our BSTC members;
Jean‑Philippe Leduc‑Gaudet, Adrien Rihoux, Emma Sutton and, Jaryeon Lee; research trainees Luke Flewwelling and Madison Garibotti; NMD4C Pre-clinical Science Leads; Arthur Cheng, Anthony Scimè and NMD4C investigators, Homira Osman, Kessen Patten, Natasha Chang, and Rashmi Kothary — where trainees and researchers came together to promote standardized protocols, elevate methodological rigor, and strengthen translational research across the Canadian neuromuscular community.

Read the report