2020 NMD4C Year in Review
covidNMD4C 2020 Year in Review
The NMD4C is proud to be where we are today. It is no easy task to unite a diverse community of stakeholders under a clear and united vision; even more difficult is to do so with the unique challenges every single member of our community faced during 2020.
With the sudden onset of obstacles early in the year, we are grateful for the outstanding work and involvement from everyone who was a part of the network in 2020. Thanks to the resilience and drive of our Steering Committee, Investigators, Collaborators, and members, we are in the position to celebrate a year of success and meaningful gains towards our network goals.
We look forwards to growing as a network with all of you in the coming year, and in the meantime invite you to reflect on some of the highlights from the past year.
Wishing everyone a happy holiday, and we will see you in 2021!
Noteworthy News
Revisit the top 5 most-read news stories published by the NMD4C over the past year!
- COVID-19 and Neuromuscular Patients
- Current State of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Canada Webinar Report
- COVID-19 Resources Care Recommendations for Home Based Ventilation Patients
- Pulmonary support for people with myotonic dystrophy during COVID-19 pandemic
- Letter to provincial governments regarding SMA therapy outcome measures
Early Career Holiday Reading
The NMD4C is fortunate to have so many members who are in the early stages of their careers; we believe that providing training and support to these members will impact the knowledge and understanding of NMD for the next generation of clinicians and researchers.
Throughout 2020 we have featured several of our members through our early career blogs; find the full list of blogs here! From finding inspiration to offering new perspectives, the blogs provide insight into the challenges and triumphs of navigating a nascent career in science and medicine.
2020 Webinar Wrap Up
With our partner, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, we wrapped our incredible slate of webinars in 2020 with December’s Up and Coming Stars in NMD, where we heard from several young researchers and clinicians who are engaged in exciting projects in NMD.
We are planning to build on these successful webinars in 2021 and will resume January 5th, with All You Need to Know about CMT – Clinical Updates, and NMD Case Rounds and Genetic Neuropathies in the following months!
Check out reports of past webinars in 2020 from NMD4C and our partners:
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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.