$360,000 in fellowships awarded to advance neuromuscular research and healthcare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2023

Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) together with the Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C) are excited to announce the recipients of a funding competition, which awarded national post-doctoral fellowships in neuromuscular research and clinical fellowships in neuromuscular medicine and electromyography.
This competition saw many incredible applicants and involved a thorough and extensive review by leading Canadian neuromuscular researchers and clinicians to ensure the most promising and top-ranked researchers, and leaders in neuromuscular care, received funding.

“This initiative helps train and educate the next generation of neuromuscular researchers and clinicians. The post-doctoral fellowships help strengthen neuromuscular research capacity, and the clinical fellowships will strengthen the specialist care available to the neuromuscular community,” said Stacey Lintern, CEO, Muscular Dystrophy Canada. “For our clients, that means we are investing in the sustainability of neuromuscular research, which brings us one step closer to finding cures, and in skilled clinicians that will provide clinical care to individuals affected by neuromuscular disorders and help raise standards of care.”

Post-doctoral fellowship recipients:

Dr Yuguo Liu   Université de Sherbrooke

Post-doctoral Supervisor: Dr Florian Bentzinger
Title of Research: Targeting the Perivascular MuSC Niche for the Treatment of Muscular Dystrophy

Sean Ng, PhD candidate   McMaster University

Post-doctoral Supervisors: Dr Mark Tarnopolsky and Dr Joshua Nederveen
Title of Research: Determining the Therapeutic Potential of AMP-activated Protein Kinase in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2

Dr Matthew Triolo   University of Ottawa

Post-doctoral Supervisor: Dr Mireille Khacho
Title of Research: Targeting mitochondrial dynamics and metabolites to restore muscle stem cell function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Clinical fellowship recipients:

Dr Gloria Mak

Training institution: University of Alberta

Dr Béatrice Soucy

Training institution: University of Calgary

Dr Neha Patel

Training institution: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto

MDC and NMD4C extend special thanks to the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists (CSCN) for jointly funding a clinical fellow this year.

FUNDED GRANTS AND AWARDS

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ABOUT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY CANADA

Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s mission is to enhance the lives of those impacted with neuromuscular disorders by continually working to provide ongoing support and resources while relentlessly searching for a cure through well-funded research. To learn more about Muscular Dystrophy Canada, please visit muscle.ca or call our toll-free number at 1-800-567-2873.

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