Center Advisor & PT Chair Awarded $6.25M to Expand Muscular Dystrophy Study

Dr. Krista Vandenborne, Chair of the UF Department of Physical Therapy and BREATHE Center advisor, was recently awarded a new five-year, $6.25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support continued efforts to develop MRI biomarkers for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, expanding the study to include people with Becker muscular dystrophy. For the study, Vandenborne and her team plan to develop new MRI biomarkers that are sensitive across a wide range of ages and mobility stages, including in individuals who can no longer walk. Additionally, since the disease also affects the ability to breathe, UF researchers will test MRI measures of respiratory muscle health that can be used in clinical trials targeting participants in more advanced disease stages. Learn more about the award here. Congratulations, Dr. Vandenborne!