An expression of the live unlimited spirit, stories and voices of the MDA community
James Ervasti, PhD, professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years to study the mechanical characterization of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome that . . .
MDA announced today the awarding of 25 new MDA grants totaling more than $6.6 million toward research focused on a variety of rare neuromuscular diseases (NMDs), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), inclusion body myositis (IBM), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy . . .
Stephen Meriney, PhD, professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $302,587 over three years to develop a combinatorial drug approach to discover possible therapeutics for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). His work is focused on testing a novel calcium channel agonist (an agonist produces the same . . .
This September, MDA is kicking off 30 Days of Strength, a campaign to raise funds for and awareness of people living with neuromuscular disease. Since the launch of MDA’s annual Labor Day telethon, September has been our most important fundraising period. Across the 30 days of September this year, MDA is sharing stories of the . . .
In May 2019, Jon Olson set out from Astoria, Oregon to bike across the US. He’s dedicating his miles to MDA, the research and care it supports, and the community it — and Jon — represents. So far, he’s raised more than $10,000. He’s ridden more than 2,500 miles and has about 1,000 left to . . .
We believe in the power of community and the importance of building relationships with families going through similar experiences. If you are an individual living with a neuromuscular disease, we invite you and your loved ones to attend our MDA Engage Newborn Screening Webinar. It will broadcast live online on Friday, Aug. 30, from 11 . . .
Biogen announced positive long-term results from its ongoing phase 2 (NURTURE) clinical trial evaluating Spinraza (nusinersen) for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at the Cure SMA Annual Conference held June 28 through July 1 this year. New data from the NURTURE study demonstrated that after almost four years, infants who were treated with Spinraza before developing symptoms of SMA . . .
School creeps up on you! At first you look at your three-and-a-half months on the calendar and marvel at the expansive possibilities, but here I am three months later and I’ve done maybe three quarters of what I wanted to get done. It’s not to say that I’ve been lounging around, although there has been . . .
Reagan Imhoff, 14, is a former MDA National Ambassador (2014-2015) and a current camper at MDA Summer Camp in Wisconsin. Reagan, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), thoroughly enjoys MDA Summer Camp, and she was excited to connect with current MDA National Ambassador Faith and share perspectives on what it’s like to stay at . . .
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease that affects and impairs voluntary muscle movement. It is the leading genetic cause of infant death. SMA is caused by a mutated or missing survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1) that prevents the body from making enough survival motor neuron protein (SMN), ultimately resulting in motor neuron . . .
Sign up for MDA news & updates.
