Myotubular Trust Call for Projects

The Myotubular Trust was set up in 2006 to raise money for research to find a cure and / or treatment for myotubular myopathy.

There are three genetically distinct forms of Myotubular Myopathy. The commonest is x-linked, affecting only boys, and also the most severe. It usually presents in the newborn period and there are associated breathing and swallowing difficulties in addition to the general muscle weakness. The other forms are either dominant or recessive in inheritance, are usually milder and vary widely.

In April 2009 they awarded their first research grants for the following projects:

• Gene therapy for x-linked myotubular myopathy and pathophysiology – Dr Anna Buj Bello, Genethon, Evry.
• Membrane trafficking and T tubule structure and function in a canine model of centronuclear myopathies – Dr Richard Piercy, Royal Veterinary College, London.

Forthcoming call for projects

The Myotubular Trust has a Scientific Board which is chaired by Professor Francesco Muntoni of The Institute of Child Health, University College London. The Board makes recommendations to the Myotubular Trust trustees on which projects to fund.

The Trust is now holding a second call for research projects. Completed applications need to have been received by close of business Friday 18th December 2009 to be considered for the anticipated awards in April 2010.

They are also looking to fund further projects that will help find a cure and / or a treatment for any of the three types of myotubular myopathy (congenital X-linked recessive; congenital autosomal recessive; autosomal dominant), focusing on research that would not generally be funded by public or industrial funding sources. This call will be open to European research bodies only.

The following types of application are sought:

1. A project grant applied for by a Principal Investigator to fund a project for 2-3 years duration to be carried out by a Post Doctoral researcher, or PHD student
2. A Myotubular Trust fellowship – basic science (3-4 years duration), where the scientist has identified a group that he or she wants to work with. Award is made to a named individual.
 

Application forms


The application forms will be posted on the Myotubular Trust website http://www.myotubulartrust.org by the end of September. Please email research@myotubulartrust.org should you have any questions relating to this call for projects.