Muscular Dystrophy Association

Description

If it's possible to sum up the mission of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's research program in one word, then "hope" is that word. For those affected by any of the neuromuscular diseases included in the Association's programs, their desire is that effective treatments will be discovered in time to reverse their conditions. The Association's expectation is that, if support of MDA research can be significantly accelerated, their desire can be realized in the near future. Since its founding in 1950, MDA has invested over $600 million dollars in its research program and awarded over 15,000 research grants and fellowships in an unparalleled effort to identify the causes of and find effective treatments for neuromuscular diseases. Although MDA-supported scientific investigators are aggressively pursuing treatments or cures for neuromuscular diseases, the Association realizes that families living with neuromuscular diseases today need treatment and support right now. At MDA's 235 hospital-affiliated clinics nationwide, children and adults receive comprehensive services from diagnosis to therapeutic and rehabilitative follow-up care. Meeting the challenge of accelerating potentially life saving research while maintaining the Association's patient and community services program requires new sources of funding if we're to move forward.