Strongly


An expression of the live unlimited spirit, stories and voices of the MDA community

Clinical Trial Alert: Early Phase Study of SRP-9001 in Boys with DMD

Researchers at Stanford Neuroscience Health Center are seeking 3-year-old boys living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), particularly in California, to participate in an early phase clinical trial (a new cohort of the ENDEAVOR trial) to evaluate efficacy of Sarepta’s investigational gene replacement therapy SRP-9001 to treat DMD. SRP-9001 uses an adeno-associated virus (AAVrh74) to introduce a . . .

Read More

Muscular Dystrophy Association Awards 18 Grants Totaling Over $1.6 Million for Neuromuscular Disease Research

On Oct. 28, 2021 the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced the awarding of 18 new grants totaling over $1.6 million toward neuromuscular disease (NMD) research. These new grants represent a continued commitment by MDA to fund groundbreaking research that will one day lead to treatments and cures for the diseases in its program. The newly . . .

Read More

Talking About Your Child’s Diagnosis Helps Build Your Support System

When Stephanie and Wayne Donato received the diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) for their son Maximus, who was 4 at the time, in 2017, “we were completely blindsided,” Stephanie says. The couple quickly realized there were a lot of people they needed to tell, and they started with their own family. The Donatos also . . .

Read More

MDA Helps Students and Teachers Achieve Success Together

It can be overwhelming for educators to learn the various challenges associated with neuromuscular diseases and to take those considerations into the classroom. The good news is that these students also come with their own unique set of deep strengths, and educators’ role in encouraging, supporting, and motivating them draws on many of the skills . . .

Read More

Research Study Alert: Observational Study of Clinical and Electrophysiological Outcomes in Adults with CMT

Researchers at Ohio State University are seeking adults living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 (CMT-1) and type 2 (CMT-2) to participate in a one-month observational study (CMT Establish). This study is designed to assess whether individuals with CMT-1 and CMT-2 exhibit altered communication between nerves and muscles, known as neuromuscular junction (NMJ) transmission, compared to healthy . . .

Read More

Clinical Trial Alert: Phase 3b Study of Oral Edaravone in Adults with ALS

Researchers at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Development America, Inc. (MTPA) are seeking adults living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to participate in a phase 3b clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral edaravone to treat ALS. Edaravone (brand name Radicava) was designed to help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, and was . . .

Read More

Capricor Announces Positive Results from its Phase 2 Study of CAP-1002 to Treat DMD

On September 24, Capricor Therapeutics announced positive results at the World Muscle Society Virtual Congress from its phase 2 HOPE-2 trial of the investigational therapy CAP-1002 for treatment of people in advanced stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The primary and secondary endpoints of the study, the improvement of upper limb and cardiac function, were met, . . .

Read More

Improving Air Travel for People Living with a Disability

Broken wheelchairs. Inaccessible seating. Hard to navigate aircraft. For too many in the neuromuscular community, traveling by air is not accessible. We sat down with Paul Melmeyer, MDA’s VP of Public Policy and Advocacy to hear about his recent appointment to the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee and the Association’s work on accessible air . . .

Read More