DM Researchers Awarded Record $8.8 Million in New Awards In Fiscal Year 2022
On December 23rd, Congress passed the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill which for the sixth year in a row ensures that myotonic dystrophy remains an eligible research condition under the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). To remain eligible for research funding, Congress approve all eligible diseases and conditions as part of the Senate Appropriations legislation. To date, myotonic dystrophy researchers have been awarded $8.1 million under the program.
Weeks after this announcement, PRMRP announced their fiscal year 2022 research awards and myotonic dystrophy researchers were awarded a record $8.8 million in new research grants. Four DM researchers submitted grant applications and two researchers won awards. This represents an excellent 50% success rate for DM! Details on the researchers and research topics will be announced soon.
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 are continuing 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.
Become a PRMRP Consumer Reviewer
Individuals living with myotonic dystrophy, caregivers, advocates, and researchers focused on the myotonic dystrophy, 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 reviewer, please contact the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation and visit the PRMRP consumer reviewer overview webpage at: https://cdmrp.health.mil/cwg/default
Advocate for the DM Community - Join us for Our Rare Disease Month Advocacy Webinar
Join us on February 27th for our Rare Diesease Month Webinar! Everyone in the myotonic dystrophy community is invited to learn more about our advocacy priorities and how they can help increase federal funding for myotonic dystrophy research. Click here to register for the Feb 27th advocacy workshop!