Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Introduced in Alberta and Saskatchewan
We are excited to share that through the advocacy efforts of Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC), in the past week both Saskatchewan and Alberta’s provincial governments have implemented newborn screening (NBS) programs for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)!
On February 23rd, Saskatchewan officially expanded their newborn screening panel to include testing for SMA as part of its newborn screening program, and on February 28th Alberta announced that through a pilot project with MDC, newborns will be able to be screened for SMA.
MDC continues to work diligently with donors, provincial governments, partners and supporters to remove barriers so that screening for SMA in Canada is a reality. Read more about MDC’s multi-year, multi-phase endeavour in collaboration with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. to better understand and address barriers for the implementation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
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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.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NMD4C Basic Research Summer School!!!
Application Deadline: January 27, 2026 | We are excited to announce that applications are now open for our third Basic Research Summer School for neuromuscular research trainees! Led by Dr. Mireille Khacho, the 2026 NMD4C Basic Research Summer School will be held from June 8th to 10th at the University of Ottawa.