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
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2026 NMD4C Application & Nomination Deadlines
As we start the new year, three important NMD4C opportunities are approaching their deadlines. Members are invited to nominate a researcher or publication for the Annual NMD4C Awards, apply to join the Basic Science Trainee Committee (BSTC), and apply to attend the 2026 NMD4C Basic Research Summer School, taking place June 8–10 under the leadership of Dr. Mireille Khacho. Registration for the summer school is free, with travel and accommodations covered for non‑local trainees.
NMD4C Website Updates: Resource & Training Hubs
We’re excited to share some updates to the NMD4C website! We’ve created two hubs, the Resource Hub and the Training Hub to make it easier for all our members to find e-learning tools, and research resources!
Scheduled Maintenance
Our websites and training platforms will be undergoing maintenance from December 22 – 26 and 29 – 31, 2025. During this period, access may be limited until the work is complete. We appreciate your patience while this maintenance is carried out. If you require assistance during these times, please contact our Communications Coordinator, Lola Owoeye.