Local scientist wins vital research grant

A professor from the University of Sheffield has been awarded a grant of almost £25,000 by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to carry out research into incurable neuromuscular conditions. Professor Steve Winder, from the University of Sheffield´s Department of Biomedical Science, carries out research into treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a devastating and life-limiting muscle-wasting disease which mainly affects boys. Between the ages of eight and 11 boys, with Duchenne become unable to walk and by their late teens or twenties their heart and respiratory muscles become affected. Around 2,400 boys and men in the UK have the condition. Professor Winder is looking at the dystroglycan protein which, although it is not the primary cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, does not function properly in boys with this condition. He hopes to establish whether making small changes to this protein in muscle cells might help to prevent the weakness experienced by people with some muscle diseases. The £24,265 awarded by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign will fund the first of a four year PhD studentship.