Canadian Neuromuscular Fellowship Competition
2025 Fellowship Recipients
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Dr. Pauline Garcia
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC
Supervisor: Dr Nicolas Dumont
Title of Research: Exploring Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Myotonic Dystrophy type I Muscle Stem Cells
Project Summary: Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a genetic disorder that weakens muscles over time and affects several organs. Muscle stem ells, which help repair muscles, don’t function properly in people with DM1, leading to poor muscle growth and healing. Fixing these stem cells could offer a new way to treat DM1, but this has not been studied much yet. Dr. Dumont’s lab discovered that muscle stem cells in DM1 also have problems with their energy production. Mitochondria, often called the cell’s “powerhouses,” are essential for providing energy and regulating other important functions. When mitochondria don’t work correctly, it can cause many issues that could explain what is seen in DM1. Our project aims to explore whether malfunctioning mitochondria are behind the problems with muscle stem cells in DM1. We developed a 3 part plan to: First, study how badly mitochondria are affected in muscle stem cells. Then, find out what causes these defects in DM1. In a last part, investigate how these defects impact muscle healing. We’ll also test if certain drugs can fix the mitochondria and improve muscle stem cell function, which could lead to new treatments. We have the tools, human tissue samples, and animal models needed for this research. There is unfortunatly no cure for DM1, and patients have limited options to manage their symptoms or slow the disease’s progression. We aim to develop more effective treatments thanks to our work on mitochondrial dysfunctions in MuSCs.
Dr. Tatiana Koeke
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC
Supervisor: Dr Nicolas Dumont
Title of Research: Targeting defective Muscle Stem Cells to treat Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Project Summary: DM1 is a multi-systemic disease that affects skeletal muscle. It causes muscles to weaken, shrink, and become stiff, making it hard for people with DM1 to move and do everyday tasks. This can make life much more difficult for them. The skeletal muscle tissue is composed of muscle stem cells that help the muscle grow and repair. Our previous study showed that the muscle stem cells of people with DM1 start to show signs of early aging. In this context, our research is focused on finding new ways to treat these damaged muscle stem cells. We believe that using senolytic drugs, which can remove aging cells from the body, might help improve muscle function. Exercise has also been shown to have similar effects as senolytics by getting rid of aging cells. We plan to investigate if combining senolytic drugs with exercise can reduce the number of aging cells and improve muscle health. To test this, we will examine muscle samples from DM1 patients before and after a 12-week strength training program. Additionally, we will study muscle tissue from mice with DM1 after they have exercised for six weeks. Our goal is to see if exercise and senolytic drugs together can repair muscles better than using them separately. By the end of our research, we hope to find effective treatment options that could lead to better therapies for people with DM1.
Dr. Emma Sutton
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON
Supervisor: Dr. Rashmi Kothary
Title of Research: Maternal transfer of an adeno-associated viral vector: a novel, minimally invasive approach to deliver SMN-gene therapy in Smn2B/- mice
Project Summary: We aim to find a new way to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in babies before they are born. At the moment, all treatments are given to babies after they are born, but we want to see if treatment can work better if we give it to the baby's mother while she is pregnant. To figure this out, we will use mice with SMA to see if giving a therapy to the mother can stop the disease from causing problems in the baby's brain, spine, and muscles. If this research works, it could mean that treating the mother with a therapy before the baby is born might be a new and better way to use therapy for SMA.
Clinical Fellows
Dr. Bridget Mulvany-Robbins
Training institution: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Supervisor: Dr. Shahin Khayambashi
Bio: Dr. Bridget Mulvany-Robbins completed an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience, followed by medical school and neurology residency at the University of Alberta. Throughout her residency, she became drawn to neuromuscular medicine for its variety, nuanced clinical assessments, and rapidly evolving landscape. She is excited to join the University of British Columbia to complete her fellowship in Neuromuscular Medicine and Electromyography with support from the National Clinical Fellowship award.
Dr. Annie Zhu
Training institution: University of Toronto - Citywide Neuromuscular Fellowship, Toronto, ON
Supervisor: Dr. Aaron Izenberg
Bio: Dr. Annie Zhu completed their medical degree and residency in Adult Neurology at the University of Toronto. During residency, she developed a passion for electrodiagnostics and neuromuscular medicine and hopes to integrate her passion for education and art in this field as well. She will complete the City-wide Neuromuscular Fellowship Program at the University of Toronto to acquire further expertise in treating neuromuscular disorders.
The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C) together with Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) host this annual funding competition to award postdoctoral fellowships in neuromuscular disease (NMD) research, and national clinical fellowship awards in neuromuscular medicine and electromyography.
This annual funding competition provides salary support for early-career scientists to conduct postdoctoral studies in a laboratory focused on research of NMDs, and early-career clinicians to participate in a neuromuscular medicine and electromyography training programs. Successful applicants are eligible to receive funding over a one-year period for both the postdoctoral and the clinical fellowships.
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.
Eligibility Criteria
Postdoctoral research fellowship eligibility criteria
- Applicants must hold a PhD, received no more than 36 months from the date the degree was conferred, before the time of application. For clinician-scientists, this application should be submitted within two years after completion of their final clinical training. Exceptions to the above 36 months eligibility period will be considered due to delays in training or extenuating circumstances. Applicants may apply for this fellowship before completing their terminal degree, if they have a firm commitment from the laboratory head in which training will take place.
- Applicants should not hold another full salary fellowship concurrently; however, salary support received from this fellowship can be supplemented by their supervisor.
- Applicants need not be Canadian citizens; however, they are required to be conducting their research at a Canadian research institution.
- The proposed research project and training must be related to a specific or multiple neuromuscular disorders under the mandate of MDC.
Clinical fellowship eligibility criteria
- Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have completed postgraduate training in adult or pediatric neurology or physiatry in a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accredited program at the time of commencement of the fellowship (at least one Canadian citizen/permanent resident will be awarded funding).
OR
- International/Canadian applicants who have completed postgraduate training in adult or pediatric neurology or physiatry outside of Canada that have met the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada requirements, will be eligible if they have the support of the proposed Canadian fellowship training director.
Evaluation Process
Postdoctoral research fellowship evaluation process
Each application will be scored based on:
- Review panel’s assessments of the application
- Letters of support
- Consideration of all applications in pool
- Reports of the reviewers
Summarized anonymous feedback will be provided for all applications submitted, whether they were successful or not.
Clinical fellowship evaluation process
Each application will be scored based on:
- Past accomplishments in clinical care, education and research
- Clinical and academic leadership potential in neuromuscular care and electromyography
- Commitment to advancing neuromuscular care in Canada
- Quality of the training plan
- Quality of the training environment
- Educational resources available to the trainee
- Expertise and commitment of the training director and other clinical neurophysiologists
- Track record of training leaders in neuromuscular care and electromyography
Application Process
The 2024 funding competition is open from September 3, 2024, with October 15, 2024 the deadline to submit your application.
Competition Deadlines
The 2025 funding competition is now closed.