Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Centers (MDSRC)

This renewal of the Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Centers (MDSRCs) continues a legislatively-mandated Centers of Excellence program, which aims to expand and intensify research on muscular dystrophy. The Centers advance basic, translational, and clinical muscular dystrophy research through interdisciplinary collaboration and shared resources for the research community. They support innovative, center-based projects that would be less effective as stand-alone grants, and provide strong training environments for emerging scientists. The Centers also engage patient and advocacy communities to raise research awareness, encourage participation, and ensure patient-centered perspectives inform study design and conduct. Grant authorities that allow NICHD to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 U.S.C. 281 (Sec. 401); 42 USC 283g (Sec. 404E); 42 U.S.C. 285g (Sec. 448); 42 USC 284h (Sec. 409D)