Newly Developed FSHD Mice Likely to Aid Research

A newly developed research mouse that has the same combination of genetic alterations that causes human facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is expected to change the way research in this disease is conducted, possibly speeding the development of therapies.

Unlike humans, mice normally do not have a DNA structure called a D4Z4 repeat array that, when altered, causes FSHD. Therefore, FSHD research mice have been particularly difficult to create.

New Guidelines on Genetic Testing in Children

As scientists learn more about what our DNA can tell us about health and disease, public interest has intensified and genetic testing has become increasingly common. In response, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) have released new guidelines to address updated technologies and new uses of genetic testing and screening in children.

Strong Community Support Essential to Passage of Critical Muscular Dystrophy Legislation

Note: The MD CARE Act is a critical part of the historic effort to find cures for muscular dystrophies. Watch for articles in the coming weeks that delve further into the remarkable progress attributable to this important legislation.

$13.6 Million in New MDA Grants Promote Understanding, Treatment of Neuromuscular Diseases

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 44 new grants totaling $13.6 million to advance the understanding and treatment of neuromuscular diseases. The new grants, most of which took effect Feb. 1, encompass a range of diseases covered by MDA’s research program, and they support innovative approaches to basic research and new drug development.

In addition to addressing 16 specific neuromuscular diseases under MDA’s umbrella, the grants also fund research into muscular dystrophy in general, and research into muscle physiology related to neuromuscular disease.

FSHD — Rabi Tawil, M.D.

Rabi Tawil, professor of neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y., was awarded a one-year MDA research grant totaling $92,222 to develop a biomarker for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

FSHD — Michael Kyba, Ph.D.

Michael Kyba, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $358,227 over a period of three years to study muscle developmental deficits in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The new grant complements previous MDA-funded work by Kyba to identify and test experimental therapies in FSHD.

Muscle Physiology — Masahiro Iwamoto, Ph.D., D.D.S.

Masahiro Iwamoto, research scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and associate professor of pediatric orthopedics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $405,000 over a period of three years to study new ways to reduce muscle degeneration.

Patrick Harris

2012
Full name: 
Mr. Patrick Harris

Peace Flower

Artist: 
Patrick Harris
Disease: 
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH or FSHD)
Medium: 
Wire Sculpture

Scientists Find Cause of Type 2 FSHD

Scientists funded in part by MDA have found the cause of type 2facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a discovery that increases scientific understanding of both forms of FSHD, will improve diagnosis of the disease and could lead to treatment advances.

MDA Commits $10.7 Million to Neuromuscular Disease Research

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded 33 new grants totaling $10,684,481 to fund research projects focused on uncovering the causes of, and developing therapies for, neuromuscular disease.

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 Aug. 1.

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