Funding to continue genotype phenotype correlation of the DMD and BMD brain
Leiden, September 18, 2024 – The BIND project is thrilled to announce that the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), together with the Duchenne Data Foundation (DDF), has secured funding to further continue deep phenotyping of the brain in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD).
This research project, set to commence on October 1, aims to further enhance the understanding of brain involvement in DMD and BMD through further analysis of the extensive neuropsychological dataset and cross-correlation of the imaging and neuropsychological data.
Data analysis within the BIND project’s lifetime (January 2020 to June 2024) focused on the relation between mutation location (‘genotype’) and neuropsychology and MRI (‘phenotype’). In this follow-up project, we will look further into the phenotype by assessing the relation between neuropsychology and MRI. We will also further analyze the neuropsychology data. The aim of this one-year project is to uncover new insights that could drive future therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes.
The project has received funding from several national Duchenne patient organisations: Duchenne UK, Muscular Dystrophy UK, DPP Netherlands, DPP Belgium and PPMD USA. Each have contributed financially to this continuation of the BIND research agenda with a total of €102,000 in funding. Additionally, LUMC will cover essential travel costs.
Dr. Hermien Kan, principal investigator and vice director at the CJ Gorter MRI Center of the department of Radiology at LUMC is looking forward to starting the project. “We are excited to be able to continue our collaboration with DDF to further our understanding of brain involvement in DMD and BMD and make these data available.”
The collaborative effort marks another step forward in the field of brain comorbidities in DMD/BMD, illustrating the commitment of patient organisations to advance science and enhance quality of life for people affected by DMD and BMD.
For more information on the BIND Project, please learn about the BIND objectives and approach or contact Dr Hermien Kan.
About BIND Project
The BIND project is an EU funded project aiming to advance research and understanding of the role of dystrophin in the brain in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. It unites 19 partners from Europe and Japan and aims to research this critical but underexplored aspect of DMD/BMD. The goals of BIND are to localise dystrophin isoforms in the brain, enhance understanding of brain restoration, define brain comorbidities, and establish new assessment tools and therapeutic strategies.