Background

The Myotubular Trust (UK Registered Charity No: 1137177) was set up in 2006 to raise money for research to find a cure and / or treatment for any of the genetic forms of centronuclear and myotubular myopathy.

There are a number of genetically distinct forms of centronuclear and myotubular myopathy. The commonest is x-linked, usually called myotubular myopathy, affecting in the vast majority of cases, only boys. It is also usually the most severe, presenting in the new-born period and there are associated breathing and swallowing difficulties in addition to the general muscle weakness. The other forms are either dominant or recessive in inheritance, are usually, but not always, milder, and vary widely.

2021 call for projects

Myotubular Trust is holding a 2021 call for research grants. We will require completed applications by 1700 hours GMT Friday 29^th October 2021. We anticipate making awards in April 2022.

We are looking to fund projects that will increase the clinical understanding of, and help find a cure and / or a treatment for any form of centronuclear and myotubular myopathy (congenital X-linked recessive; congenital autosomal recessive; autosomal dominant), focusing on research that would not generally be funded by public or industrial funding sources. This call will be open to international applications.

Applications may be made for:

1. Project grants

We will consider applications from the Principal Investigator for projects of 2-3 years duration to be carried out by a post-Doctoral researcher, or PHD student

1. A Myotubular Trust fellowship, non-clinical

The Fellowship scheme is designed to support early career scientists to help them to develop their independence. Applicants will have identified a host institution and will be undertaking a project of 3-4 years duration. This is not the same as a post doc position and should be designed and led by the fellowship applicant but with the support of the host lab.

In particular we would like to encourage the application of novel approaches and technologies to research into myotubular and centronuclear myopathy. We are interested in all aspects of translational research, including, but not limited to, interventional trials; studies that shed light on genotype/phenotype inter-relationships; studies on modifiers of disease progression and collaboration between different medical disciplines and / or different research institutions. We are also willing to consider applications which involve joint funding of new projects with other organisations.

Myotubular Trust’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is chaired by Professor Francesco Muntoni of The Institute of Child Health, University College London. The SAB makes recommendations to the Myotubular Trust Trustees on which projects to fund, based on scientific assessment and peer review.

Further information

Further guidance and an application form can be found on the website - https://myotubulartrust.org/research/grants-process/ If you wish to learn more about the Myotubular Trust, please see our website http://www.myotubulartrust.org or email research@myotubulartrust.org