Ronald Haller, professor of neurology and neurotherapeutics at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years to identify the cause and possible effective treatment for the oxidative defect that accompanies blocked glycogen breakdown in McArdle disease (phosphorylase deficiency). Haller plans to assess levels of metabolites in humans before and after exercise to better characterize the metabolic profile of patients, and test whether small increases in key molecules can help and improve patients’ capacity for exercise.

Funding for this MDA research grant began Aug. 1, 2015.