Grant Recipients for Research in Myotonic Dystrophy
MDF Grant Recipients in 2007
The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) awarded three grants in 2007 - two to young investigators and one lifetime achievement award to a senior investigator. See below for details about these grants and the recepients:
Young Investigator Awards
Two promising young investigators were acknowledged at the 6th International Myotonic Dystrophy Consortium (IDMC-6) conference in Milan, Italy, on September 12-15, 2007. The awards were given to two young investigators who were deemed to have made the best research paper presentations at the conference on the treatment of myotonic dystrophy. Five senior researchers who are considered experts in the field were asked to adjudicate the award decision.
These $1,000 cash awards were made to:
Michael Bryan Warf, a PhD student at the University of Oregon, Department of Chemistry, United States, for his paper titled:
"MBNL binds similar RNA structures in the CUG repeats of myotonic dystrophy and its pre-mRNA substrate cardiac troponin T"
Michael Bryan Warf receives his award from Shannon Lord,
MDF's Chairman at his research lab at the Univ. of Oregon
Susan Mulders, a PhD student at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, The Netherlands, for her paper titled:
"Oligonucleotide-mediated silencing of expanded DMPK transcripts in a DM1 myoblast-myotube cell model"
Susan Mulders receives her award from John Brekka, MDF's Secretary at the IDMC-6 conference
Lifetime Achievement Award
The MDF gave a lifetime achievement award of $5,000 to Dr. Richard Moxley III, M.D. at the 6th International Myotonic Dystrophy Consortium (IDMC-6) conference in Milan, Italy on September 12-15, 2007. This award was given to the investigator who has made the greatest contribution to the field of myotonic dystrophy research, as deemed by the MDF Board of Directors. The award is meant to provide incentive to the investigator to continue their research and sustained commitment to the field. The award was also given to Dr. Moxley in thanks for his contribution to the development of the MDF organization. Dr. Moxley is a Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, and the Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Center at the University of Rochester. To see Dr. Moxley's bio please click here.
Dr. Richard Moxley receives his Lifetime Achievement Award from John Brekka, MDF's
Secretary as Dr. Giovanni Meola and Dr. Tetsuo Ashizawa look on