MDC grants – Muscular Dystrophy Canada

Moving Research & Discovery Forward – The 2024 Neuromuscular Clinical and Translational Research Grant Recipients

Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual Neuromuscular Research Grants competition. Through these grants, MDC is investing $900,000 into clinical and translational research projects focused on managing healthcare, understanding diagnosis and disease progression, enhancing care, discovering novel treatments and therapies and moving research towards the development of cures.

This year, the funded studies focus on spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, immune-mediated myopathies, autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) and cross-cutting research with findings that will inform a wide range of neuromuscular disorders. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, MDC was able to invest $63,630 towards an innovative natural history study led by Dr. Gonorazky on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, bringing our investment in research projects close to $1 million.

“These grants fund research across a broad set of neuromuscular disorders, help fill current gaps in the funding landscape, and honour our commitment to increasing opportunities for translational research,” said Stacey Lintern, CEO, Muscular Dystrophy Canada. “Of course, this is only possible thanks to our generous donors, incredible supporters, Fire Fighters and volunteers. I’d also like to thank the clinicians and researchers on our Scientific Review Panel, as well our Lived Experience Readers who volunteered their time and expertise in selecting this year’s recipients.”

2024-2025 clinical and translational science research grant recipients:

Dr Haim Abenhaim
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of cesarean deliveries in women with muscular dystrophy

Dr Krista Best
Efficacy of wheelchair skills training to improve mobility for people with ARSACS and DM1

Dr Nathalie Bier
Understanding the impact of central nervous system impairments on daily life in myotonic dystrophy

Dr Rageen Rajendram
Utilizing AI to predict non-invasive ventilation need in neuromuscular disorders: a proof of concept

Dr Karine Choquet
Elucidating DYSF pre-mRNA splicing to inform therapeutic avenues for dysferlinopathies

Dr Lisa Hoffman
Angiopoietin-1 enhances microdystrophin replacement therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Dr Rashmi Kothary
Maternal transfer of AAV vectors: a minimally invasive approach to deliver SMN-gene therapy for SMA

Dr Keir Menzies
A new in vitro eccentric muscle contraction assay for drug repurposing for muscular dystrophy

Dr Gerald Pfeffer
Single nucleus RNAseq biomarkers in adult-onset muscle diseases

Learn more about MDC’s research investments and the incredible projects that will improve our understanding and drive the development of new treatments and cures for NMDs:

Watch the full Neuromuscular Research
Grants announcement

Current Grants

Looking to connect with MDC’s Research Team? No problem! Contact our Research Hotline at research@muscle.ca

$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.”

Learn more “$360,000 in fellowships awarded to advance neuromuscular research and healthcare”

MDC funds seven new projects to propel research forward during challenging times

Toronto, Ontario – Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) is proud to announce an investment of $400,000 to fund seven new research projects in 2021 through the MDC Neuromuscular Disorder (NMD) Research Grant Competition, a dedicated Canadian source of funding for neuromuscular research. MDC will also invest in an international, collaborative, $1.15 million, research project through the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD).

“Despite an unprecedented time, during which many like-minded organizations and agencies are not in a position to offer research funds in Canada, MDC is able to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to discovering cures,” stated Stacey Lintern, CEO, Muscular Dystrophy Canada. She added, “while others redirected their research funds towards the coronavirus, and this was much-needed, MDC recognized the need to maintain momentum, and ensure the incredible advances currently taking place in research are accelerated.”

In addition to the seven new projects being funded, MDC will continue its support of 12 active research studies from the previous year.

“MDC grant recipients are selected by medical and scientific professionals, as well as Canadians with lived experience. Research proposals are judged based on scientific merit, and the potential to translate findings into initiatives that will positively impact the NMD community,” said Dr. Daria Wojtal, Director of Research, Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

MDC relies on the generosity of donors to fund life-changing research.

Dr. Rashmi Kothary, Deputy Scientific Director and Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and 2019-2020 MDC research grant recipient, said “to the families and donors, I would have to say a huge thank you. From my first day as a researcher, getting my first grant from MDC, you were there. Thank you for sticking by the research community for many, many years. Hopefully we can pay back the trust that you put in us.”

MDC is honoured to fund the exceptional and bright researchers, clinicians and academics who will lead these seven new projects taking place in hospitals and universities across Canada, and around the world.

The 2020-2021 research grant recipients are:

Dr. Alex Parker
A Pharmacogenetic Pipeline for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Dr. Colin Crist
Promoting Muscle Repair by Pharmacological Inhibition of eIF2a Dephosphorylation
Dr. Mohamed Chahine
Human iPSC-derived Neurons as a Model of Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Dr. Nadine Wiper-Bergeron
Improving Myoblast Transplantation Outcomes via Pharmacological Reprogramming
Dr. Nicolas Dumont
Targeting Defective Stem Cells in a Preclinical Model of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Dr. Rima Al-Awar (EJPRD/CIHR Co-funded)
Safety and Efficacy of a Possible Epigenetic Therapy for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Dr. Toshifumi Yokota
Enhancing the Efficacy of Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

“Congratulations to the 2020-2021 grant recipients. MDC is committed to supporting opportunities that fulfill our commitment to invest in research that leads to information on diagnosis, treatment and health management of neuromuscular disorders; and, we’re confident that the research funded this year will bring us closer to cures for all children, youth, adults and families affected by neuromuscular disorders,” added Lintern.

DISCOVER THE PROJECTS WE SUPPORT

-30-

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 explore our website or call our toll-free number at 1-800-567-2873

MEDIA CONTACT

Heather Rice
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
heather.rice@muscle.ca
902-440-3714