Muscular Dystrophy Canada Announce Phase 2 of Newborn Screening Initiatives with Call for Funding Proposals
The NMD4C are excited to share an update from MDC around their ongoing work in newborn screening (NBS) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
NBS gives families the opportunity to make important healthcare decisions from the very beginning and gives every child a chance to realize their developmental potential. After launching phase 1 in December which involved a readiness and feasibility assessment of standardized SMA screening programs in Canada, MDC is excited to launch Phase 2 of their work with a call for proposals for local newborn screening for SMA initiatives.
It is anticipated that these projects will be led by labs or clinicians (or both) and should either focus on setting the lab up for testing or ensuring efficient uptake of policy (i.e., addition of SMA to existing provincial newborn screening panel).
The deadline to submit proposals is June 16th, 2021 @ 11:59pm ET.
Click here to read the full press release and find out more about MDC’s newborn screening initiatives and the call for proposals! If you have any questions, please email
Read next...
Scheduled Maintenance
Please note that this website, imPORTND, and the NNLS training platform will undergo maintenance from July 23 until July 27, 2026.
Discover Neuromuscular Talent Across Canada
The NMD4C Neuromuscular Talent Pool is now live with new trainees! We invite supervisors and research groups to explore the Talent Pool to identify candidates whose skills, experience, and interests align with your work and upcoming positions. Trainees interested in being included in the Neuromuscular Talent Pool can register by completing the short form, uploading a CV and brief personal statement outlining their experience, interests, and career goals. For more information and to access the Talent Pool, please visit our website.
Join Us at the 2026 NMD4C Annual Meeting on 25 September
The 2026 NMD4C Annual Meeting will take place in Calgary on Friday, September 25, 2026. The agenda will feature a brief network update, trainee and early-career recognitions, flash talks, a health economics research showcase, and a series of cross‑disciplinary and parallel clinical/pre‑clinical discussion sessions to explore key topics, including advocacy and therapy access, strategies to sustain and strengthen pre-clinical programs, and network sustainability and strategic planning.