Several experts presented their views of "best practices" for care of people with neuromuscular disorders at MDA's 2012 Clinical Conference, held in Las Vegas March 4-7.

Many questions remain about optimal care in these disorders, but it's clear that attention to heart and respiratory function are of paramount importance.

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The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 38 new grants totaling more than $12 million to fund research projects focused on its continuing mission to uncover the causes of, and develop therapies for, the more than 40 neuromuscular diseases in its program.

MDA's Board of Directors reviewed and approved the new grants based on recommendations from the Association's Scientific and Medical Advisory Committees, and the grants took effect Feb. 1.

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?

Stem cells have been much in the news lately, including for neuromuscular diseases.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 40 research grants totaling $13.7 million to advance the understanding of disease processes and uncover new strategies for treatments and cures of muscular dystrophy and the more than 40 other diseases in the Association's program.

The new grants were recommended by MDA's Scientific and Medical Advisory Committees and approved by MDA's Board of Directors at its July 2011 meeting.