Action Plan for the Muscular Dystrophies

Released January, 2006

The MD-CARE Act was signed into law in December 2001. This Act of Congress called for an increased emphasis on research and education on muscular dystrophy by federal programs, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A recent outcome of the MD-CARE Act is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan for the Muscular Dystrophies developed by the Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee Scientific Working Group. The action plan, which can be viewed in it's entirety by clicking here, identifies currently feasible, high-priority objectives in areas of disease mechanism, diagnosis and screening, therapy, living with muscular dystrophy and research infrastructure. Johns Hopkins is a leader in pursuing many of these objectives, specifically those related to disease mechanism and novel therapies.

The MD-CARE Act also called for the creation of centers of excellence across the country to accelerate muscular dystrophy research. One of six Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers was awarded to a joint Johns Hopkins -- University of Pennsylvania group of researchers. Dr. Lee Sweeney from the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Kathryn Wagner from Johns Hopkins direct the center. The support from the NIH helps ensure that Johns Hopkins researchers can meet the objectives outlined in the action plan.