NMD4C Welcomes Two New Staff Members
The NMD4C recently welcomed two new members to the network coordination team! Victoria Larocca, PhD joins us as the new Training and Curriculum Coordinator, and Zainab Adamji joins as the Outcome Measures and Natural History Coordinator.
Victoria Larocca, PhD | Training and Curriculum Coordinator
Victoria is a dedicated knowledge mobilization specialist with a passion for advancing health research and education. She earned her Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University in 2022 and 2018, respectively, following her Bachelor of Education from Brock University in 2016.
Throughout her academic journey, Victoria has immersed herself in health psychology and clinical research. With her experience and education in health research, Victoria is committed to advancing the education and curriculum for neuromuscular trainees as well as advancing the research conducted at Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Zainab Adamji | Outcome Measures and Natural History Coordinator
Zainab is a dedicated knowledge mobilization specialist with a passion for translating research into practical applications and influencing policy. She earned her Honours B.Sc. in Biology, specializing in Biotechnology, from the University of Waterloo in 2020, followed by an MSc in Molecular Science from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022. During her academic studies, Zainab researched lysosome dysfunction and its intricate impacts on organelle cross-talk. Zainab has supported numerous research and advocacy initiatives at Muscular Dystrophy Canada and has further honed her expertise through the MobilizeU knowledge mobilization certification program at York University.
Within her role at the NMD4C, Zainab works to coordinate NMD outcome measures, developing training modules and provide training on validated NMD outcome measures, and selecting patient-reported outcome measures to be captured in post-market surveillance patient registries.
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NMD4C Hosts 3rd Annual Basic Research Summer School at uOttawa!
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.
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.