Muscular Dystrophy UK has announced that it is investing £1.3 million into 11 new research projects including one at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The leading charity for more than 110,000 children and adults in the UK, living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions will be funding two PhD studentships, two three-year project grants, three 12-month grants and four two-year project grants that aim to improve diagnosis, monitor progression, and test potential new treatments.

The research projects cover a range of different conditions including Becker muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mitochondrial myopathy, myasthenia gravis, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and for the first time ADSSL1 myopathy and X-linked spinal muscular atrophy (XL-SMA).

Dr Nathan Hodson, at Manchester Metropolitan University, was one of the successful applicants to receive the four-year project grant. Along with his PhD student, he will investigate the metabolism of people with Becker muscular dystrophy and examine if increased protein intake will benefit their physical strength and quality of life.

Dr Nathan Hodson, at Manchester Metropolitan University said: “I was inspired to do this research after interacting with several individuals with Becker muscular dystrophy and realising how few resources there were for people with muscular dystrophies on how to implement a condition-specific healthy diet.

“As diet is a factor which can be altered more easily than activity or exercise in individuals with muscular dystrophy, I believe further research into this area can have an enormous impact for those living with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions.

“By doing this we can then understand if adding extra protein to an individual with Becker muscular dystrophy’s diet can improve, or reduce the loss, of their muscle size, strength and function. This will in turn hopefully improve independence and quality of life for those living with a condition and could also be applied to other neuromuscular conditions.”

The charity’s research grants now reach right across the UK with new funding awarded to researchers in Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Teesside and Ulster. The new grants bring the total number of research projects funded by Muscular Dystrophy UK to 43.

Kate Adcock, Director of Research and Innovation at Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “Here at Muscular Dystrophy UK we’re delighted to fund groundbreaking research to better understand the different muscle wasting and weakening conditions and lead us to new effective treatments.

“Researchers have made incredible advances that would have been unthinkable just 10 years ago and we’re proud to be able to support these new efforts in Manchester.”

As well as funding research, the charity also shares expert advice and support to live well now, works with the NHS towards universal access to specialist healthcare and campaigns for people’s rights, better understanding, accessibility, and access to treatments.

More details and information on Muscular Dystrophy UK’s research projects: musculardystrophyuk.org/research