MDA's SEARCH FOR TREATMENTS AND CURES
Since 1950, MDA has funded promising scientific investigations seeking treatments and cures for the muscular dystrophies. The Association makes every effort to support new experimental treatments whenever there is a reasonable scientific basis for doing so.
Since the discoveries of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene and its protein (dystrophin), scientists have been working to develop safe and effective methods for inserting a working dystrophin gene into the muscles of boys with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies.
As investigators identify the gene and protein abnormalities that cause other forms of muscular dystrophy, the promise of further genetic therapies is also expanding.
Under the auspices of MDA's Medical Advisory Committee, Association-funded scientists intensively search for non-genetic therapies (for example, corticosteroids) that might slow, stop or reverse the progression of the muscular dystrophies.
MDA's research department monitors muscular dystrophy therapeutic trials throughout the world and serves as an information clearinghouse on these studies.
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