In partnership, the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation US and the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation UK made the following grants in 2015:

“Inhibiting transcription of CUG/CCUG expanded repeats with small molecules”

PI: Andy Berglund, PhD of the University of Florida
PI: Paul August, PhD of Sanofi

The pharmaceutical company Sanofi and the University of Florida have been awarded a grant the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation US and the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation UK to screen for new drugs to treat DM1 and DM2. The University of Florida will be optimizing an assay designed to identify compounds that inhibit the transcription of the repeats in the DM1 and/or DM2 genes, and then will work with Sanofi to conduct a high throughput screen to identify drug candidates. This work builds on a previous discovery by Dr. Berglund and colleagues that the antibiotic actinomycin D can block transcription of CUG repeats at nanomolecular concentrations.

“Assay Development for a Study of Genetic Prevalence in Myotonic Dystrophy”

Nicholas Johnson, PhD
University of Utah, US

Dr. Johnson's research proposal will lead to a better understanding of the prevalence of the disease-causing mutation or premutation in DM1 and DM2 in the general population, specifically in the US where disease prevalence information is lacking. Accurate information regarding how many people in the US have DM1 and DM2 mutations, or are at risk of repeat expansion, will improve service provision, basic research, drug development and policymaking related to DM. In the first phase of this RFA award, Dr. Johnson will develop and validate a cost-effective screening methodology capable of estimating the prevalence of DM1 and DM2 mutations and pre-mutations in the general US population.