Memphis - St. Jude Children's Hospital

Stephen Skapek, M.D.
(RG) Regulation of G1 cyclins in dystrophin-deficient myocytes
$ 50,000.00	7/1/99 - 6/30/00	Year 3

Summary: Researchers will determine whether genes that control muscle cell growth and survival are abnormal in muscular dystrophies that are characterized by the loss of the dystrophin gene.

Memphis - University of Tennessee

Harry Jarrett, Ph.D.
(RG) Syntrophins and muscular dystrophies
$ 56,695.00	7/1/99 - 6/30/00	Year 3

Summary: A muscle cell membrane contains a complex of proteins whose interactions are disrupted in muscular dystrophies. These interactions and their control will be studied, which may lead to therapies.

Nashville - Vanderbilt University

Alfred George, M.D.
(RG) Human muscle chloride channels in myotonia congenita
$ 71,299.00	7/1/99 - 6/30/00	Year 3

Summary: Myotonia congenita is a genetic disease that causes lifelong muscle stiffness by affecting electrical activity of the muscle chloride channel. This research project is aimed at further defining the genetic and physiologic basis of myotonia congenita, and developing better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for treating this disease.

Bing Kuang, Ph.D.
(DG) Split ends, a novel rac-interacting gene, 
is required for motor axon outgrowth
$ 35,000.00	7/1/99 - 6/30/00	Year 1
$ 35,000.00	7/1/00 - 6/30/01	Year 2
$ 35,000.00	7/1/01 - 6/30/02	Year 3

Summary: "Split ends" is a gene that encodes a fly homolog of a human brain protein. Mutations in split ends cause defects in motor and CNS axon outgrowth and pathfinding similar to those observed for mutations in a semaphorin receptor for axon guidance. This grant proposes to investigate the function of split ends in the development of neuromuscular connections and semaphorin signaling.

Return to MDA Research Grants

| What's New | Diseases | Research | Clinics & Services | Community Programs | Publications | En Español | Telethon | Ways to Help | Video | Search | Site Map | Help Now | Home |