Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation

Latest News and Events

January 25, 2012

2012-2013 Fund-A-Fellow Awards

ROSEVILLE, CA (January 25, 2012): The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) is pleased to announce its largest-ever round of Fund-A-Fellow postdoctoral fellowship research grant awards. In January 2012, MDF awarded four-$100,000 awards to postdoctoral Fellows working in universities and research facilities to encourage basic research in the management, treatment and cure of myotonic dystrophy (DM). This award cycle nearly doubles the number of fellowship grants awarded since the program was launched in 2009, and brings the total research funding awarded by the MDF to over $1M since its founding in 2006.

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January 25, 2012

EMPOWER 2011 Conference Update

CLEARWATER BEACH, FL (December 2-4, 2011): More than 600 members of the myotonic dystrophy community met in Clearwater Beach, Florida for a two day conference presented by the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) in collaboration with the University of Florida and the International Myotonic Dystrophy Consortia (IDMC). The IDMC is a biennial meeting of the international myotonic dystrophy research community. It is made up of researchers and health care professionals whose common aim is to help those affected by myotonic dystrophy (DM) through improved patient care, focused clinical and scientific research or development of meaningful treatments.

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January 25, 2012

Lamb of God Auctions Autographed Guitar

Heavy metal band Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton offers autographed guitar and strings for auction to benefit DM research. 

See Mark Morton talk about and sign the guitar that is up for auction:

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January 25, 2012

MDF Board Announces Staff Growth

To Our Myotonic Dystrophy Community,

In 2011 the MDF board of directors made a commitment to address the increasing demand for MDF programs and services, enhance our ability to create strategic priorities and initiatives, and broaden and deepen our funding base. 

To this end, the Foundation embarked on a series of staff changes in Fall 2011. I am delighted to report that this staff development process is now complete.  Please join me and the rest of the Foundation board of directors in congratulating and welcoming the team below.

Molly White joined the Foundation in January 2012 as Executive Director to provide leadership, strategic direction and administrative oversight for the comprehensive programmatic and fundraising efforts of the Foundation and its staff. Molly reports to the MDF Board of Directors and will work closely with them to help propel MDF forward by enhancing the organization’s visibility, establishing priorities and increasing support.

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January 25, 2012

Sam's Squad Update

A little freezing rain and wind didn’t deter Sam’s Squad from running and walking a total of 772.9 miles in, and volunteering more than 400 hours for, the Dallas White Rock Marathon on December 4, 2011. The team, made up of friends and family of ten-year-old Sam Florence, who lives with myotonic dystrophy, have been training and raising funds for the past six months. The group set an ambitious goal of raising enough money to fund one year of an MDF research fellowship, or $50,000. We are thrilled to report that Sam’s Squad not only achieved that goal, they doubled it, raising a total $101,120. This gift will fund a full 2-year research fellowship. 
 

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