NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced today the awarding of five new MDA grants totaling over $1.6 milliontoward research focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's disease." MDA has devoted over $168 million to ALS research, including $20 million in the last decade.

"We are at a time of unprecedented progress in ALS, thanks in large part to the foundation established by MDA's investments," saysSharon Hesterlee, PhD, chief research officer for MDA. "We now have greater insight into the processes that underlie this disease and the ability to target specific genes where genetic causes are identified."

The newly funded projects will aim to: create a clinical trials platform for testing multiple drugs simultaneously; deploy an ALS Toolkit; continue development of a biobank and database that can be used by ALS researchers .; develop and validate a new gene therapy strategy for ALS and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), and prepare for a personalized clinical trial of a novel treatment for ALS symptoms, while also researching risk factors and the cause of ALS.

The ALSgrant awards for this grant cycleinclude:

Due to COVID, MDA had to cancel its spring review session. The funding of these projects was reviewed in 2019. For a complete list of individual awards, visit MDA's Grants at a Glance.

Grants being given jointly by MDA and other organizations will be announced separately.

About the Muscular Dystrophy Association

For 70 years, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has been committed to transforming the lives of people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases throughinnovations in scienceandcare. As the largest source of neuromuscular disease research funding outside of the federal government, MDA has committed more than$1 billion to accelerate the discovery of therapies and cures.Research we have supportedis directly linked to life-changing therapies across multiple neuromuscular diseases.MDA's MOVRis the first and only data hub that aggregates clinical, genetic, and patient-reported data for multiple neuromuscular diseases to improve health outcomes and accelerate drug development. MDA supports thelargest network of multidisciplinary clinics,providing best in class care at more than 150 of the nation's top medical institutions. OurResource Centerprovides one-on-one specialized support, and we offer conferences, events, and materials for families and healthcare providers. During COVID-19, MDA continues to produce virtual events and programming to support our community. For more information, visitmda.org.

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SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association

Link:
Muscular Dystrophy Association Awards Five Grants Totaling Over $1.6 Million for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research - BioSpace