Cure CMD Commits $375k to Research Grants

As part of our ongoing mission to support the development of treatments for the five primary subtypes of congenital muscular dystrophy, Cure CMD has committed $375k in research grant funding for 2026-2028.

Dystroglycanopathies & LMNA

We recently hosted a call for Letters of Intent for the Dystroglycanopathies and LMNA-CMD. Of the 20 submissions received from labs around the world, 13 were invited to submit a full application. Applications received by September 14 will be reviewed by Cure CMD’s Scientific Director, Dr. Gustavo Dziewczapolski, and several external expert reviewers to arrive at the most promising project for each subtype.

SELENON

Cure CMD is co‑funding a three‑year grant for the Beggs Laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital, in partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Cure ADSSL1. Dr. Beggs’ team has developed mouse models for two congenital myopathies caused by mutations in the SELENON and ADSS1 genes. These models will help clarify the causes of muscle weakness and provide essential tools for advancing new therapeutic approaches. Using these models, the research team will design and test innovative gene‑therapy strategies to restore muscle function. If successful, this work will deepen our understanding of why weakness occurs in these congenital myopathies and pave the way toward new treatment options for individuals living with these conditions.

SELENON & LAMA2

Cure CMD has extended its financial support for a natural history study in SELENON-RM and LAMA2-RD, conducted by Nicol Voerman’s team at Radboud University in the Netherlands. This will bring our support to five straight years for this project and we have been excited to see the data and publications already shared.

COL6 & LAMA2

For the past several years, Cure CMD has been an integral member of research consortia focused on COL6 and LAMA2, respectively. Given the progress already made toward treatments for each of these subtypes, and the ongoing dialogue and open sharing between researchers, we will be funding each consortium of multiple labs toward a single project with related study aims. While this has not been the means by which we have traditionally funded research, we believe that this is the best next step to advance COL6 and LAMA2 toward treatments, with well-developed priorities determined by experts in the field. The application will still be reviewed by external scientists to ensure the study aims are feasible and scientifically rigorous.

Cure CMD is thrilled to continue our tradition of funding the most promising research projects, and we look forward to outcomes that will bring the CMD community closer to clinical trials.

Want to support this initiative or other vital programming? Check out our 2026 campaign page and learn about how you can get involved to make a tangible difference for those living with congenital muscular dystrophy.