We fund research into treatments and cures

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign funds world-class pioneering research into potential treatments and cures for people with muscular dystrophy (from basic science and translational research to clinical pilot studies).

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign works relentlessly to identify and invest in the most promising research, with a focus on basic science, the development of therapeutic approaches and clinical trials in the field of muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions.

Over 50 years the charity has contributed to crucial scientific breakthroughs in the field of muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions such as: laying the foundations for the promising technology of 'exon skipping' which is currently being tested in clinical trials for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and funding work that has led to a scientific breakthrough in finding a treatment for mitochondrial myopathy, which is now close to clinical trial.

• The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's medical research programme has an international reputation for excellence, investing up to £1million each year, with more than 20 live projects taking place at any one time (from basic science to clinical trials). 
• The charity invests in the scientists of the future, funding PhD studentships in top UK universities. It also invests in specialist advice and education for clinicians with training and clinical fellowships. 
• The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign currently funds 10 PhD studentships, and has supported more than 500 young scientists develop careers within the field of neuromuscular science over the past 50 years. 
• In the last five years we have invested £2.3 million to fund research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We currently fund four Duchenne muscular dystrophy research projects in Oxford and London at a cost of more than £400,000.

"Without the support of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in the battle to treat muscular dystrophy, I dread to think where we would be. There have been tremendous advances in both medical care and translational research in recent years which have transformed natural history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy."

Ros Quinlivan, Consultant Paediatrician, Birmingham Children's Hospital

"It is an interesting question - where would we be without the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign funding? The basic answer is we wouldn't be anywhere as they are the funders that have really got this research off the ground. "

Professor Doug Turnbull, Professor of Neurology at the University of Newcastle