Centre for Muscle Research receives international grant to investigate Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Scientists at the University’s Centre for Muscle Research (CMR) have been awarded a grant from the United States’ Muscular Dystrophy Association to investigate how biochemical pathways controlling muscle growth and endurance can be manipulated in mouse models to improve muscular dystrophy pathology.

Lead researchers CMR Director Professor Gordon Lynch, Dr Kristy Swiderksi and ARC DECRA Fellow Dr Justin Hardee will use the USD$300,000 three-year project grant to advance the understanding of  Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy, and related muscular diseases.

DMD causes muscle wasting and weakness throughout the body, leading to premature death in boys and young men. 35 years after the discovery of the culprit gene, dystrophin, there is still no cure or effective treatment.

Successful therapies may help improve quality of life and enhance the success of other treatments, including genetic therapies, as they become available.

Professor Lynch thanked the Muscular Dystrophy Association for their ongoing support of the CMR’s work investigating muscle diseases.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded seven highly competitive project grants to Professor Lynch over the last 20 years that have facilitated substantial advances to the understanding of DMD, and training and mentoring for early- and mid-career scientists and scholars in muscular dystrophy research.