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Neuromuscular Disease Foundation Announces $750K+ in Awards for GNE Myopathy Research & Programs

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Neuromuscular Disease Foundation Announces $750K+ in Awards for GNE Myopathy Research & Programs

March 31
14:39 2021
NDF’s 2021 Grant Recipients will Focus Primarily on Gene Therapy for Rare Muscle-Wasting Disease

Neuromuscular Disease Foundation (NDF) is pleased to announce the GNE Myopathy related research projects selected for funding in 2021. Recipients include a global coterie of GNEM experts such as the Lek Lab at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Paul Martin’s lab at The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, as well as NDF’s charter grantee, Dr. Stella Mitrani-Rosenbaum at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Israel, among several others listed below. 

NDF’s Scientific Advisory Review Committee and its Board of Directors carefully vetted numerous applicants to ensure that the majority of studies awarded directly support remaining studies needed in order to complete the necessary data required by the FDA for an investigative new drug (IND) application in support of gene therapy for the disease. 

“These are exciting times at the intersection of genetics and technology as gene manipulation is a relatively new area in science, and particularly challenging for muscle disorders” said Lalé Welsh, NDF’s CEO “A watchful and steady process has been crucial in allowing our team to emulate the successes of gene therapy trials that have gone before us, such as the SMA trial, while learning from the pitfalls of other, more complicated efforts over the past two years. We are profoundly grateful to have had generous guidance in this area from so many members of both industry and academia to help address safety concerns for our patients world-wide”. 

Dr. Tahseen Mozaffar, member of NDF’s Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Committee added, “NDF has been aggressive in its quest to pursue  treatments and gene therapy for GNEM. Most of the 7000 orphan diseases do not have any approved treatments, and NDF is way ahead of the game”. 

The following research proposals have been recommended by NDF’s 2021 Scientific Proposal Review Committee and approved for funding by the NDF Board of Directors, all of which aim to address feedback given by the FDA and were underscored in a gap analysis led by NDF’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nuria Carrillo. 

  1. Dr. Kaya Bork and Dr. Rüdiger Horstkorte, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Berlin, Germany –  Development of sensitive and robust enzyme assays for GNE (UDPN-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase)

  2. Dr. Kelly Crowe, Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University –  Evaluation of Lectin Staining Biomarkers in Pre-Clinical Models of GNEM

  3. Dr. Julie Crudele, Department of Neurology, University of Washington – Development and preclinical assessment of AAV-GNE gene therapy

  4. Dr. Monkol Lek, Lek Lab, Yale School of Medicine – High throughput genetic screening assay for GNE 

  5. Dr. Paul Martin, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital- Development and gene therapy testing of a new disease model for GNE Myopathy. 

  6. Dr. Stella Mitrani-Rosenbaum, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center-Establishment of GNE knock out muscle cells for the assessment of GNE related biomarkers and Gne knock out muscle conditional mouse for the assessment of AAVGne gene therapy

  7. Dr. Wakako Yoshioka, Department of Neuromuscular Research at The National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Japan – Activation of endogenous mutated GNE product by small compound. 

  8. Additional resources are being devoted to work with mouse models by a CRO and will be announced soon. 

NDF has also earmarked funds for its other keystone programs which support patient advocacy, education and awareness, and offer a GNEM-specific, multi-disciplinary clinic in collaboration with UC Irvine. To learn more about NDF’s scientific progress and objectives, please check out curehibm.org.

GNE Myopathy (GNEM) – also known as HIBM1* – is a rare genetic muscle disease. It causes muscles to slowly weaken, usually starting at the feet and ankles, later affecting the rest of the legs and arms. GNEM is not life-threatening, but it leads to physical debilitation within decades. Symptoms usually begin to develop in young adults, between late teens to early 30’s. GNE Myopathy exists in all races and nationalities worldwide.

About the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation

Founded in 2006, NDF is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, and the world’s leading foundation in funding research that supports the search for a cure for GNE Myopathy.

The Neuromuscular Disease Foundation’s (NDF) mission is to enhance the quality of the lives of people living with GNE Myopathy (also known as HIBM) through advocacy, education, outreach and funding critical research focused on treatments and a cure.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

Visit us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/CureHIBM

Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/NDF.HIBM 

Visit us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ndf.curehibm/

Visit us on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-neuromuscular-disease-foundation

*Officially called GNE Myopathy, commonly known as HIBM. Also known as Nonaka Myopathy, DMRV – Distal Myopathy with Rimmed Vacuoles, QSM – Quadriceps Sparing Myopathy, HIBM2 – Hereditary lnclusion Body Myopathy Type 2, IBM.

Media Contact
Company Name: Neuromuscular Disease Foundation
Email: Send Email
Phone: (310) 721-1605
Address:269 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 1206
City: Beverly Hills
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: https://curehibm.org/

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