The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada

The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C) together with Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) are excited to announce the launch of a funding competition to award two postdoctoral fellowships in neuromuscular disease (NMD) research!

The fellowship provides salary support for early-career scientists to conduct postdoctoral studies in a laboratory focused on research of NMDs, with successful applicants being eligible to receive up to $40 000 in funding over a one-year period. The fellowship will allow early-career scientists to pursue NMD-related research that will impact the understanding of the biological causes and/or new clinical treatment of NMDs while also supporting the recipients to pursue future independent research careers in the field of NMDs.

The competition is open as of September 1^st, 2021 with the deadline for submissions being October 15, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET. The fellowship guidelines are available here, and we encourage all who are eligible to apply.

The fellowship will provide opportunities for early-career scientists to pursue exciting research in NMDs. Reducing barriers to practice in neuromuscular research is integral in allowing researchers to build a sustainable career in the field, and we are pleased to partner with Muscular Dystrophy Canada in providing these opportunities.

– Dr. Rashmi Kothary, Steering Committee Member of the NMD4C

The NMD4C and MDC are committed to empowering the next generation of  early-career researchers and clinicians in building successful careers in NMD research and clinical practice. When provided with access to research funding and clinical fellowship opportunities, researchers and clinicians are more likely to develop core competencies, perform meaningful research and make long-term commitments to the field of NMDs. Empowering the next generation of researchers today will lead to improved neuromuscular care, research, treatment, and health outcomes for all Canadians tomorrow.

This initiative will assist with training and education for the next generation of neuromuscular researchers and strengthens the biomedical infrastructure to build neuromuscular research capacity in Canada. For our clients, this means we are investing in the sustainability of neuromuscular research which brings us one step closer to finding cures.

– Stacey Lintern, CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada

This collaborative award is the first created by the NMD4C and MDC, with both organizations planning to announce a second fellowship in the coming months which will support early-career clinicians who wish to pursue a fellowship in the neuromuscular field. Stay tuned to NMD4C and MDC updates for more information to come later this fall!

Please don’t hesitate to share this opportunity with any of your colleagues and within your neuromuscular networks. For further inquiries, please contact Dr. Homira Osman (MDC) at or Dr. Erin Beattie (NMD4C) at .

Guidelines on how to apply are available here.

The application is available here.