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 Clinical Sciences Award at the recent International Myotonic Dystrophy Consortium Meeting (IDMC-14) in Nijmegen, Netherlands! 

The prestigious Steinert awards are presented to individuals who display excellence in clinical and basic research on myotonic dystrophy. Based in Québec’s Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, an area with an elevated prevalence of Myotonic dystrophy (DM1) where 1:600 people are affected by the disease, Dr. Gagnon is the scientific director of the Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN) where she leads research projects and clinical trials on a variety of NMDs, including DM1. Dr. Gagnon has established an internationally renowned research program focused on documenting the natural history of NMDs through an interdisciplinary perspective to document disease progression and identify significant predictor and explanatory factors related to participation in daily activities and social roles of patients, and defining the best outcome measures to assess potential therapeutic targets. Dr. Gagnon is a key figure in growing the number of clinical trials available in Canada for DM1, facilitating trials at sites in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and collaborating with Dr. Hanns Lochmüller’s research team in Ottawa. 

 

Saguenay Prepares to Welcome International Colleagues to IDMC-15 in 2026 

Dr. Gagnon and GRIMN will host the 15th edition of the IDMC in Saguenay, QC in the fall of 2026 

We look forward to welcoming the leading international myotonic dystrophy conference to Canada, and will share further news on the meeting as details are available. 

IDMC-14_steinertaward_Cynthia_4x3

Read next...

2024 year in review

NMD4C 2024 Year in Review

This year in review outlines a collection of achievements from the network over the past year.

2025 NM fellowship funding recipients

NMD4C and MDC Award Fellowship Funding in NMD Research and Medicine

Together the Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C) and Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) are excited to announce the 2025 recipients of our neuromuscular fellowship funding competition to award postdoctoral fellowships in neuromuscular disease (NMD) research and clinical fellowships in neuromuscular medicine and electromyography!

Meet the Basic Science Trainee Committee

NMD4C Basic Science Trainee Committee Provides Leadership Opportunity for Next Generation of Neuromuscular Researchers

The newly-formed Basic Science Trainee Committee represents the interests of trainees within the network, offering an opportunity for professional growth for future leaders in neuromuscular research.

SMA Workshop Pic 2

NMD4C and MDC Host Second SMA Outcome Measure Training Workshop for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists Across Canada

The Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Motor Function Measures workshop organized by the NMD4C in collaboration with MDC took place in Montreal, Quebec on December 3rd, 2024 and was a resounding success. This workshop was established to harmonize assessment practices for the following SMA outcome measures across Canada

2025 MultiD Care Program (1200 x 900 px)

NMD4C Launch New Multi-Disciplinary Care of Neuromuscular Diseases Education Curriculum

The NMD4C is excited to share a new training and education initiative from our education team! The Multi-Disciplinary Care of Neuromuscular Diseases lecture series is a new CPD-Accredited 24-topic webinar series designed as an advanced curriculum for the practicing clinical audience to learn fundamentals of multi-disciplinary care for patients across a range of neuromuscular conditions.

2025 Basic Research Summer School application image

2025 NMD4C Basic Research Summer School to be Held at York University

Save the Date! We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting our second annual basic research summer school for neuromuscular research trainees over May 7-8, 2025 at York University in Toronto, ON.