During 2017 we were honored to provide four research grants and one development grant to individuals looking to accelerate treatments and cures for FSHD and FA. Learn more about their work:
Throughout 2017, MDA awarded five research grants and a clinical research training fellowship to individuals dedicated to finding treatments and cures for myotonic dystrophy (DM).
Since 1986, when MDA-funded researchers identified the gene that, when flawed, leads to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), scientists have been actively pursuing treatments and cures. In the past 12 months, MDA has awarded research grants to the following individuals who are building on the strong foundation of previous research and discovery to better understand — and someday cure — the diseases.
Andrew Lieberman of the University of Michigan Medical School was awarded an MDA research grant to test a modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy to treat spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy.
Auinash Kalsotra of the University of Illinois was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years to shed light on how defects develop in the heart in DM1.
Dean Burkin was awarded an MDA research grant to test the effects of an existing FDA-approved drug on the function of heart and skeletal muscle in a mouse model of DMD.
Angela Lek, a postdoctoral research fellow at Boston Children sHospital, 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.
Feng Yue, of Purdue University was awarded an MDA development grant totaling more than $175,000 over three years to evaluate the therapeutic potential of a protein called PTEN in DMD.
James Lupski, who lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B., was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000.
Udai Pandey was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years to identify new drugs for ALS caused by a mutation in the FUS gene.
