The Senate Appropriations Committee approved their version of the fiscal year 2025 Defense funding bill by a bipartisan 27-0 vote on August 1st, 2024. The bill includes $370 million for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) initiative and makes myotonic dystrophy research eligible for funding for the 8th year in a row. PRMRP has funded approximately $25 million in myotonic dystrophy research grants since we first became an eligible condition. Unfortunately, the legislation does not fund any new Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) initiatives which include myotonic dystrophy.

While it is disappointing myotonic dystrophy wasn’t included in CDMRP for fiscal year 2025, we made significant strides in raising awareness and the need for more research funding. Over the past several months, advocates sent 2,730 emails to Congress in support of our House and Senate CDMRP letter campaigns and 16 U.S. Senators and Representatives sent the Appropriations committees letters of support. This is an outstanding foundation to build upon as we look to build even more congressional support for our continuing efforts to secure $10 million in dedicated DM research funding as part of CDMRP.

Thank you to all our advocates working to ensure myotonic dystrophy research remains eligible for this special Congressional funding!
 

Researching Myotonic Dystrophy? Learn About Applying for PRMRP Funding

In April 2024, Cecilia Dupecher, PhD, Program Manager, PRMRP at the U.S. Army’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) led an informative webinar briefly explaining the program’s history and purpose followed by a discussion on how researchers can apply for the millions of dollars in awards under PRMRP.

Click here to watch the Applying for Myotonic Dystrophy Research Funding! >>>