Will Make Millions of Federal Dollars Available to DM Researchers

The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation announced congressional approval of myotonic dystrophy as an eligible research condition under the US Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) in the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill passed on December 23rd. This marks the 6th year in a row that myotonic dystrophy has been designated an eligible condition for federal research funding under the PRMRP. To date, myotonic dystrophy researchers have been awarded $8 million under the program.

Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation advocates from across the country have successfully educated Congress on the importance of PRMRP program eligibility for over the past decade. We continue to strive to increase federal funding for myotonic dystrophy research across the government, including at the National Institutes of Health. Our success is helping to drive new scientific discoveries and drug development. While there are still no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments for myotonic dystrophy, several promising myotonic dystrophy treatments are entering clinical trials and research advocacy is vital to keep funding new science.

We encourage individuals living with myotonic dystrophy, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers to continue to advocate for these programs. Besides being an MDF advocate, you can help by applying to be a PRMRP consumer reviewer and researchers seeking federal funding are encouraged to consider applying for support through the PRMRP. More details are below.

Early next year, in collaboration with the PRMRP team at the Department of Defense, MDF plans to host a webinar to help researchers better understand how they may successfully apply for funding under the program.

Become a PRMRP Consumer Reviewer of Grant Applications

Individuals living with myotonic dystrophy, caregivers, and advocates play an important role in helping the PRMRP program better understand the effects of myotonic dystrophy, the life experience, and areas of clinical importance. Over 2,000 consumers, including myotonic dystrophy advocates, have served as Peer and Programmatic reviewers since 1995. Having a myotonic dystrophy consumer voice serving on the Peer and Programmatic review panels is critically important as we seek to increase federal funding for important new myotonic dystrophy research. 

To learn more about being a PRMRP consumer grant reviewer, please contact Dr. Tanya Stevenson of the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation at tanya.stevenson@myotonic.org and visit the PRMRP consumer reviewer overview webpage at https://cdmrp.health.mil/cwg/.

Apply for PRMRP Research Funding

The PRMRP program is preparing to accept new research proposals for fiscal year 2023. For more information about the application process, please visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/funding/apply or contact MDF if you have questions.

PRMRP Funded Myotonic Dystrophy Research 2018-2021 (2022 Awards Pending)

2018

• $2,081,250 - Design and Study of Small Molecules That Cleave the RNA That Causes Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1), Scripps Research Institute, Matthew D. Disney
• $571,875 - Design and Study of Small Molecules That Cleave the RNA That Causes Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1), University of Florida, Eric T. Wang             
• $377,600 - The Role of Epigenetics and Methylation Near the DMPK Gene in Causing Neurodegeneration in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, J. David Gladstone Institutes, Steven Finkbeiner      

2019      

• $317,200 - Role of Neuron-Specific Giant Ankyrins Isoform in Developing Cardiac Arrhythmia for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, Illinois, University of Champaign/Urbana, Chaitali Misra
• $1,718,139 - Extracellular RNA Biomarkers of Myotonic Dystrophy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Thurman Wheeler
• $333,552 - Extracellular Vesicles as Therapeutic Vehicles for Myotonic Dystrophy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Thurman Wheeler

2020      

• $1,189,999 - Cardiac Manifestations in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: Arrhythmia Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches, Narrows Institute for Biomedical Research, Mohamed Boutjdir
• $1,099,960 - Cardiac Manifestations in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: Arrhythmia Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches, Laval University, Mohamed Chahine

2021      

• $260,698 - Production of Adeno-Associated Virus in a Plant-Based System for the Treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy, Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Stephen Streatfield