Edison Pharmaceuticals has announced it is conducting a clinical trial of its experimental drug EPI-743 in children with the mitochondrial myopathyLeigh syndrome, and is planning a trial of this compound in Friedreich's ataxia (FA).

MDA is conducting a survey designed to assess the experiences of parents in the United States whose babies underwent newborn screening at the time of birth, with an eye toward the future possibility of newborn screening tests being recommended for certain neuromuscular diseases in which therapy development is advancing rapidly.

John Porter from the National Institutes of Health likes to start talks by noting, “It’s a great time to be a mouse with a neuromuscular disease.” Exciting research results are regularly reported, where a treatment appears to cure one neuromuscular disease or another in a mouse — yet there are few treatments available today for people with any of these diseases, and only a few treatments in human clinical trials. Why does it take so long?

Edison drugs target FA, mitochondrial diseases

When a medical emergency strikes — and the patient is a person with a neuromuscular disease— it’s not just getting to the emergency room quickly that’s critical. It’s also critical to ensure the ER staff understands the patient’s special needs caused by muscle disease.

Researchers at the Psychology of Disability Lab at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor are exploring the social identity of people with disabilities through a short, anonymous, Web-based questionnaire.

The lab's Disability Identity Project is being headed by principal investigator Adena Rottenstein, a doctoral candidate in psychology.

The study closes the week of Aug. 22, 2011.