Duchenne muscular dystrophy home page

An introduction to Duchenne

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder caused by an error in the dystrophin gene. The condition causes progressive muscle weakness as the muscle cells break down and die. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, named after the doctor who first studied this specific condition in the 1800s, affects only boys, with extremely rare exceptions.

Read the full introduction

Key facts

How serious is Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Is there any treatment?
How is it inherited?

Read the factsheet

Support

Find out about our advice and information service, plus adaptations, occupational therapy, equipment and inclusive education in the Care and Support section.
Care and support

Recent Duchenne grants

Prof. K Davies

Year 1 - £56,730

Prof. Kay Davies and her colleagues at the University of Oxford are attempting to find a drug that will increase the levels of a protein called utrophin. It is thought this protein may be able to compensate for the lack of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Drs I Graham and M Wood

Year 1 - £104,600

Drs Graham and Wood aim to optimise reagents for exon skipping in a project that complements the MDEX clinical trial.

More research we fund