Muscular Dystrophy UK becomes an affiliate charity of Our Future Health
Our affiliate charities are sharing their expertise in the prevention, early detection and treatment of disease with Our Future Health. By joining forces, the charities are also able to shape the programme to ensure it is fit to serve the research needs of a range of health conditions and diseases.
Muscular Dystrophy UK
Muscular dystrophies are a group of over 60 rare conditions that cause muscles to waste and weaken over time. Muscular Dystrophy UK is the leading charity for people living with one of these conditions, as well as their friends, family and caregivers. The charity funds groundbreaking research to better understand different muscle wasting conditions and find new treatments, as well as sharing advice, support, and working with the NHS to improve access to healthcare.
One of the charity’s achievements has been funding research into the genetic origins of muscular dystrophy. Researchers recently revealed that a common genetic change in the COL6A1 gene causes Ullrich muscular dystrophy, a specific condition that can cause muscle weakness, breathing problems and skin abnormalities. The researchers developed ‘molecular patches’ which could correct the problems with the COL6A1 gene, and lead to better treatments for Ullrich muscular dystrophy in future.
Through the success of this work and other research projects like it, Muscular Dystrophy UK envisions a world without limits for people living with muscle wasting conditions.
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophies, sometimes known as neuromuscular conditions, are a group of rare genetic conditions that cause muscles to weaken and waste over time. These are progressive conditions that worsen over time and are caused by changes in the genes that control the structure and function of muscles. Symptoms of muscular dystrophy can include muscle weakness, pain or stiffness, as well as difficulty with walking and breathing.
The charity estimates that over 110,000 people in the UK live with muscular dystrophy. There is currently no cure for the conditions, but Muscular Dystrophy UK has invested over £55 million into research to change this.
Affiliate charities
Our Future Health is joining with many of the UK’s leading health research charities who are providing valuable support and expertise to help develop Our Future Health. They will make a big impact in allowing us to ultimately change the way we prevent, detect and treat diseases.
Dr Kate Adcock, Director of Research and Innovation at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said, “We are delighted to partner with Our Future Health to help ensure that people living with muscle wasting conditions are represented in one of the UK’s largest health research programmes. It is vital that population-wide studies reflect the diversity of the UK population, including those living with rare and long-term health conditions. By working together, we can help ensure that muscle wasting conditions are included in the datasets that underpin future health research, creating new opportunities to improve understanding, care and treatment for those affected.”
Dr Raghib Ali, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Our Future Health, said, “It’s great to welcome Muscular Dystrophy UK as our newest affiliate charity partner. It’s important for us to represent rare conditions in Our Future Health, so this partnership will help us ensure that people with muscular dystrophy are included in new research discoveries, and improve the way that these conditions are prevented, detected and treated.”
Read more about our partnerships.