NMD4C: The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada

From June 8 to 10, 2026, we hosted the 3rd annual NMD4C Basic Research Summer School at the University of Ottawa. The program supported 28 neuromuscular research trainees (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) from across Canada and focused on developing practical skills, strengthening core knowledge in neuromuscular research, and providing opportunities to present and discuss their work. Through a combination of tutorials, lectures, hands-on workshops in cutting-edge wet lab techniques, flash talks, and both structured and informal networking, participants engaged with faculty, exchanged ideas, and built connections across institutions and career stages. 

Thank you to all trainees who attended for your thoughtful participation and contributions to the program. We acknowledge our sponsors, Stem Cell Network and Lucid Scientific, whose support helped make the program accessible. We thank the Resipher team, Silke Grainger and Ghainaa Abousleiman, for their hands-on session on cellular metabolism and its applications in neuromuscular research. 

We are also grateful to our patient partner, Jenna Keindel, for sharing her lived experience and perspective. Her contribution highlighted the importance of open science and communicating research in ways that are accessible to patients and the broader community. 

Finally, we thank our organizing team, Dr. Mireille Khacho (lead), Dr. Vahab Soleimani, Dr. Keir Menzies, Dr. Michael DeLisio, Dr. Junio Dort, Dr. Yan Burelle, Dr. Jean-Philippe Leduc-Gaudet, Dr. Emma Sutton, Rebecca Yaworski, Dr. Sally Spendiff and Ricardo Carmona, Dr. Alex Green, and Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston (patient partner), for their roles in planning and delivering the program. NMD4C remains committed to supporting trainee development and strengthening collaboration across the neuromuscular research community in Canada.