Neuromuscular Research Partnership

The NRP in collaboration with Muscular Dystrophy Canada and in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Health Research (Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction) worked together to leverage our dollars, or grow the value of our ALS dollar.

In this partnership each of the three organizations contributes an equal amount agreed upon each year and combines that with other CIHR funds to fund leading Canadian neuromuscular research. We lower administration costs by working together which also avoids duplication both by researchers and by our organizations. In effect our contribution is tripled and our costs are reduced.

The Partners are pleased to announce the results of the eighth NRP competition.

Jane A. Batt, PhD
St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto)
“Nedd4 Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Regeneration”
Three years

Bernard Brais, PhD
Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
“Developing molecular, cellular and mice models for Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS)”
Three years

Susan O. Meakin, PhD
University of Western Ontario 
“Nesca, a novel signaling adapter that regulates neuronal growth and regeneration” 
Three years

Jean-Marc Renaud, PhD  
University of Ottawa
“Mutation of the mouse NaV1.4 muscle sodium channel: Understanding hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HyperKPP)”
Three years

Janice Robertson, PhD
University of Toronto
“The TAR-DNA-binding protein-43 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” 
Three years 

Wayne S. Chen, PhD 
University of Calgary 
“Understanding the molecular defects and treatment of human malignant hyperthermia and central core disease”
Three years

Jean-Pierre Julien, PhD
Université Laval
“The role of inflammation in pathogenesis and immunotherapy of ALS” 
Five years

Joséphine Nalbantoglu, PhD and George Karpati, PhD
McGill University
“Molecular therapies for dystrophin deficiency” 
Four years 

Guy A. Rouleau, MD, PhD
Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
“Cellular and biochemical impact of TDP-43 mutants in ALS”
Five years

Michael Strong, MD 
University of Western Ontario
The role of TDP-43 in regulating NFL mRNA metabolism”
Three years

Panayiotis Vacratsis, PhD
University of Windsor
“Molecular mechanisms regulating myotubularin-related lipid phosphatases mutated in neuromuscular diseases”
Three years

Recipients of 2007 NRP funding were:

• Avijit Chakrabartty 
• Stephen Gee 
• Anthony Gramolini 
• Paul Holland
• Joséphine Nalbantoglu 
• Jiming Kong 
• Jasna Kriz 
• Guy Rouleau 
• Michael Sinnreich 
• Stefano Stifani
• Tanja Taivassalo 
  

Our joint funding through the Neuromuscular Research Partnership, so far:

• 2000: $1.2 million
• 2001: $5.0 million
• 2002: $3.0 million
• 2003: $4.0 million
• 2004: $2.7 million
• 2005: $3.7 million
• 2006: $2.9 million
• 2007: $2.9 million
• Total = $24.9 million

IMPORTANT DATES

Completion	2009 (02)
Application Deadline	2009-02-02
Application Notice of Decision	2009-07-15
Funding Start Date	2009-07-01

For more information please click: http://www.researchnet-recherchenet.ca/rnr16/viewOpportunityDetails.do?prog=648#top

Duration of projects - Up to five (5) years for applications rated above CIHR's cut-off
Up to three (3) years for application rated above 3.7 and below CIHR's cut-off.  There is no maximum amount for a single grant per annum. Funding may not include equipment. The total amount available for this initiative is $1.65 million.

• 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.

Please note:
1. The partners will not pay for parental leave but will extend the term of the grant by the duration of the leave.
2. For grants funded through this program, progress and end of grant reports will be shared with funding partners.

There are over 100 neuromuscular disorders within the following broad categories:·
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Spinal muscular atrophies
Diseases of the neuromuscular junction
Muscular dystrophies (e.g., Duchenne, Becker)
Inflammatory myopathies
Myotonia
Metabolic or endocrine diseases of muscle
Congenital myopathies
Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS)
Other disorders

For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

CIHR Info Desk Service
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll-free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For other inquiries regarding the NRP competition, please contact one of the following people:

ALS Society of Canada
Denise Figlewicz, Vice - President Research 
3000 Steeles Avenue East, Suite 200,
Markham, Ontario, L3R 4T9
Telephone: 905-248-2052 x 210
Fax: 905-248-2019
Email: daf@als.ca  

Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC)
Marla Spiegel, Director of Research, Education and Advocacy
Suite 900-2345 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON, M4P 2E5
Telephone: 416-488-0030 ext. 134
Fax: 416-488-7523
Email: marla.spiegel@muscle.ca

Institute of Genetics (IG)
Stephanie Robertson, Assistant Director, Ottawa
160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0W9
Telephone: 613-954-0533
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: srobertson@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritism (IMHA)
Louise Desjardins, Assistant Scientific Director
160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0W9
Telephone: 613-851-5246
Fax: 613-841-2614
Email: ldesjardins@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)
Barbara Beckett, Assistant Director, Ottawa
160 Elgin Street, Ottawa, K1A 0W9
Telephone: 613-948-4877
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: bbeckett@cihr-irsc.gc.ca