More than $5.5 million of CIHR funding awarded to NMD4C members to strengthen neuromuscular research capacity in Canada
Congratulations to the recipients of the Fall 2022 CIHR funded project grant competition! Seven projects were awarded (>5.5M) to NMD4C members to advance neuromuscular research in Canada: Drs. Rashmi Kothary and Cynthia Gagnon (steering committee members); Dr. Bernard Brais (investigator); Drs. Elise Duchesne (2 projects funded) and Gerald Pfeffer (working group members); and Drs. Yan Burelle, Nicolas Dumont (2 projects funded), Penney Gilbert, Luc Hébert, Mireille Khacho, Keir Menzies, Louise Moyle, and Toshifumi Yokota (members). Of note, 6/7 of the funded projects were awarded to early-career researchers (Drs. Nicolas Dumont, Elise Duchesne, Mireille Khacho, and Louise Moyle). Further information on the funding recipients can be found below.
Project Title: Extra-neuronal contribution to spinal muscular atrophy disease pathogenesis ($818,550).
Principal Investigator: Dr. Rashmi Kothary; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Project Title: Regulation of satellite stem cell fate by LINC complex proteins ($1,071,000).
Principal Investigator: Dr. Penney Gilbert; University of Toronto
Co-Investigators: Drs. Louise Moyle and Aaron Wheeler
Project Title: Therapeutic potential of bioactive lipids as anti-fibrotic therapy for muscle regeneration and dystrophies ($757,350).
Principal Investigator: Dr. Nicolas Dumont; Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine (Montréal, Québec)
Project Title: Targeting defective cells to restore myogenesis and muscle function in myotonic dystrophy type 1 ($761,175).
Principal Investigators: Drs. Nicolas Dumont and Elise Duchesne; Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine (Montréal, Québec)
Project Title: IMPACT, a supervised rehabilitation program for spastic ataxias: A rater-blinded, randomized controlled trial ($638,776).
Principal Investigators: Drs. Elise Duchesne, Mylene Aubertin, Bernard Brais, and Cynthia Gagnon; Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Co-Investigators: Drs. Rubens da Silva, Raquel Fonseca, Luc Hébert, Gerald Pfeffer
Project Title: Mitochondrial Quality Control in Muscle Stem Cells: A Determinant of Cell Fate Decision and Tissue Repair Capacity ($692,325).
Principal Investigator: Dr. Yan Burelle; University of Ottawa
Co-Investigators: Drs. Mireille Khacho, Keir Menzies
Project Title: Neutrophil Responses in Doxorubicin-Induced Myopathy ($879,750).
Principal Investigator: Javier Clemente-Casares; University of Alberta
Co-Investigators: Gavin Oudit, Toshifumi Yokota
Read next...
You Can Now Find NMD4C on Bluesky
We’re moving to Bluesky! The NMD4C will now share updates on Bluesky instead of X. Please consider following us at @nmd4c.ca to stay connected!
CIHR Funds Interdisciplinary Project to Study SBMA in Indigenous Peoples of the Prairie Provinces
The NMD4C is excited to share that network investigators have been awarded funding from the CIHR for an Interdisciplinary Spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy study in Indigenous peoples of the prairie provinces, addressing the community needs, and developing clinical knowledge and therapies.
NMD4C Presents the 2025 Early Career Award Recipients
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 NMD4C Early Career Awards! This is the third year of our annual award program, celebrating excellence and contribution to the neuromuscular field from early career investigators across both clinical and basic science streams.
Muscular Dystrophy Canada Launches Initiative to Improve Genetic Testing Access for Myotonic Dystrophy
Muscular Dystrophy Canada is thrilled to launch an innovative initiative designed to tackle the diagnostic hurdles experienced by individuals with myotonic dystrophy.
New Content Available in LEARNMD
LEARNMD is the NMD4C’s online educational platform, offering talks and sessions on a wide range of neuromuscular topics presented by leading clinical and scientific experts worldwide. We’re excited to share what’s new on LEARNMD in February 2025!
Quebec Network Réseau Québécoise de l’Amyotrophie Spinale Joins NMD4C as Community of Practice Sub-Group
We are thrilled to announce that the RQAS, a network uniting rehabilitation clinicians across Quebec to advance the care of people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy has officially become a sub-group Community of Practice of the NMD4C