At MDA we are dedicated to providing grants to scientists who are tirelessly working to find breakthroughs across neuromuscular diseases to accelerate treatments and cures. In 2017 MDA awarded four research grants and one development grant to individuals looking to accelerate treatments and cures for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) and Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA).
Five Questions with Researcher Angela Lek
Angela Lek, a postdoctoral research fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts, was awarded an MDA development grant totaling $180,000 over three years to use cutting-edge techniques and a novel approach to search for drug targets in FSHD.
Five Questions with FSHD Researcher Charles Emerson
Charles Emerson, professor of neurology and director of the Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program at University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years, to study the contribution of genes and epigenetic modifications to FSHD disease processes.
With colleagues, Emerson will work to increase understanding about the underlying molecular processes that determine disease severity, which can vary greatly, in FSHD.
Five Questions with FSHD Researcher Scott Harper
Scott Harper, associate professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 for three years to test a gene therapy for FSHD.
Five Questions with FA Researcher Manuela Corti
Manuela Corti, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Florida in Gainesville, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $298,954 over three years to study gene therapy in FA.
Vijayendran Chandran, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics, University of Florida School of Medicine in Gainesville, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years to identify biomarkers in FA.
Learn more about MDA’s Research Grants.
