Neuromuscular Research Partnership

The Neuromuscular Research Partnership (NRP) is the cornerstone of our research program. Muscular Dystrophy Canada collaborates with ALS Society of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Institute of Genetics, and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction) to fund the most promising neuromuscular research projects in Canada.

Since 2000, these organizations have pooled their resources to fund research aimed at developing better treatments and ultimately discovering the causes and cure for neuromuscular disorders.

• Basic research involving muscle or nerve biology relevant to neuromuscular disease.
• Focused research directed toward an understanding of neuromuscular disease.
• Applied research encompassing research designed specifically to translate promising research advances from basic research and focused research into pre-clinical and clinical investigations relevant to treatment of neuromuscular disease, but not including drug trials.

The 2011 NRP competition resulted in 10 grants with a cumulative value of $4,886,982.

By working together with other funders, Muscular Dystrophy Canada is able to:

• leverage our dollars
• lower administration costs
• avoid duplication both by researchers and by our organizations
• make a significant contribution to the research community by funding the top Canadian neuromuscular research projects annually.

The NRP competition follows the same process as CIHR’s “winter cycle” for operating grants. The request for proposals is announced each December and applications are due by March. Peer review committees then assess each application and rankings are given according to the CIHR’s set of strict and in-depth criteria. For more information about the peer review process, you can visit, www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/820.html.