Early Career Working Group Update
The NMD4C is honoured to have 92 early career clinicians and scientists as members, comprising 25 percent of total NMD4C membership.
Over the past several months, a number of these members have contributed to the network through presenting as a part of the NMD4C’s CPD-accredited webinar series, sharing their experience in the neuromuscular field in blog posts, and providing a unique perspective on the network’s activities. To further support our active early-career members, the NDM4C has created a list of profiles for these members, where you can learn more about their research interests, publications, and where you can find them online. Through sharing these profiles, the NMD4C hopes to foster new collaborations between clinicians and researchers, and help to connect early-career members of the neuromuscular community with senior investigators. If you are an early career clinician or researcher, you can find out more about how you can get involved here.
The NMD4C has also launched an early-career Slack channel, a members-only workspace created to connect early-career clinicians and researchers in the neuromuscular community.
This resource will promote networking for early-career members who share similar neuromuscular interests, act as a platform to exchange ideas and form future collaborations, and provide insight into the diverse work of other NMD4C members. The NMD4C will post updates in this channel covering early-career initiatives, events, and other opportunities within the neuromuscular community. If you are interested in joining, please email NMD4C communications coordinator James Davis ().
The NMD4C is also seeking early career member representation on all of our work packages; if you would like to get involved, please express your interest to communications coordinator James Davis.
In other early career news, the ENMC early-career mentoring program deadline for application is fast approaching; apply by July 1st, 2021 to express interest in application and to seek mentoring in order to become an independent researcher and/or potential future leader in the NMD field. This program is for individuals at the stage in their careers where they are developing their own research plans and are establishing their research teams and collaborative networks worldwide.
Read next...
New Publication from the NMD4C Clinical Trial Network Strengthens Trial Capacity in Canada
We are pleased to share a new publication from the NMD4C Clinical Trial Network led by Kerri Lynn Schellenberg, Homira Osman, Maria Masnata, Rhiannon Hicks, Corinne Kagan, Ana Stosic, Stacey Lintern, Erin Beattie, Drs. Hanns Lochmüller, Craig Campbell, and Jean K Mah. This work focuses on the implementation of a coordinated Canadian neuromuscular clinical trial network to enhance trial readiness, capacity, and access in rare disease research.
Canadian-Led Phase II Studies Advance Vamorolone Evidence in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
NMD4C investigators contributed to two phase II studies evaluating vamorolone in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy across early childhood and adolescence, demonstrating safety, favorable pharmacokinetics, and potential efficacy. Led by Dr. Jean Mah and conducted across Canadian clinical trial sites with national and industry collaborators, the findings supported Health Canada approval of vamorolone as the first treatment for DMD in Canada. Leaders from both the clinical and patient advocacy communities, including Defeat Duchenne Canada, highlighted the impact of collaboration among patients, families, clinicians, and researchers in advancing care and improving access to new therapies.
Advancing AFC in Neuromuscular Medicine: Program Launch & September Workshop
The Royal College has approved National Training Standards for the AFC in Neuromuscular Medicine, creating a formal pathway to recognize enhanced competence with the DRCPSC credential. This designation establishes a national training standard, supports portable certification, and strengthens clinical capacity across Canada. PGME offices can now apply to offer accredited AFC programs, with a goal of five programs submitting applications by the end of 2026.