GlaxoSmithKline makes major donation to MDC

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is delighted to announce that GlaxoSmithKline has recently awarded the charity £166,896 to fund a three year medical research project which investigates a pioneering and challenging approach to prevent the inheritance of mitochondrial myopathies. The project is led by Professor Turnbull and his team in Newcastle.

This funding from GlaxoSmithKline extends the partnership that the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign enjoys with the pharmaceutical company.

In 1999, GlaxoSmithKline awarded the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign £100,000 toward Professor Turnbull’s work on mitochondrial myopathies which was looking at the potential development of a gene therapy approach for mitochrondrial myopathies, using modified oligonucleotides to selectively inhibit the replication of the mutated mitochondrial DNA in a cell.

Since that time, GSK has kindly contributed three gifts of £7,500 to help the charity produce essential materials for people with muscular dystrophy.

In 2000, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign received £7,500 to produce “Your Questions Answered”; a pamphlet with general information on muscular dystrophy and “A helping Hand in Your Area”; a leaflet that detailed services for people with muscular dystrophy across the country.
In 2004, GSK funded two leaflets that helped siblings and peers understand more about muscular dystrophy - “Everyone’s Different, Nobody’s Perfect” and “Hey, I’m here too!”.

Most recently in 2005 GSK’s funding has helped us to publish “An introduction to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for Newly Diagnosed families “. A reference guide for families with a child aged approximately 5-12 years with Duchenne. It looks at the issues that may arise and offers guidance as to where to go for additional information.

Our continued thanks go to all at GlaxoSmithKline for their support.