Colin Crist, an assistant professor in the department of human genetics at McGill University in Québec, Canada, was awarded an MDA research grant totaling $300,000 over three years to investigate a biological mechanism that determines whether skeletal muscle stem cells, which play an important role in muscle regeneration, self-renew or differentiate. Crist has identified inhibitors that control this functional “switch.” This work may inform muscular dystrophy therapy development.

Funding for this MDA research grant began Aug. 1, 2015.