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Neuromuscular Disease Research

Neuromuscular Disease Education and Research

Collaborative research

Our neurology scientists' partner with physician specialists to discover translational research through basic science discovery in laboratory studies and participation in active clinical trials. Our research focuses on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), muscular dystrophies such as Duchenne, Becker, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other neuromuscular diseases to provide hope through diagnosis and treatment solutions to people living with disease symptoms. Research scientists focus on detecting gene biomarkers, to identify early-onset dementias and neurodegenerative gene disorders to slow or prohibit the progression of disease symptoms. Learn more about our Research Laboratories, Research Faculty, and Clinical Trials.

Clinical Trials, related to Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases

	Program / Lab Name
	Brown Lab ALS Clinic and Research Center Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, Professor, Leo P. and Theresa M. LaChance Chair in Medical Research Director of the Program in Neurotherapeutics Brown Lab - Research Faculty -Janice Dominov, PhD, Assistant Professor -Catherine Douthwright, PhD, Assistant Professor -Margaret Ayo Owegi, DO, Assistant Professor -Lawrence Hayward, MD, PhD, Professor
	Bosco Lab Daryl Bosco, PhD, Professor Melissa Rotunno, PhD, Assistant Professor
	Landers Lab John Landers, PhD, Professor
	Hayward Lab Lawrence J. Hayward, MD, PhD, Professor Director of Neuromuscular Disease Division
	Duchenne Program Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy Brenda Wong, MD, Professor Clinical Director of Duchenne Program The Duchenne Program at UMass Chan Medical School is a clinical and research site devoted exclusively to extending and enhancing the lives of people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, by participating in a variety of clinical trials, by advancing research for improved outcomes and new therapies.
	Wellstone Center at UMass fshd - facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy Charles Emerson Jr., PhD, Professor Wellstone Center and Emerson Lab Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center is dedicated to understanding the underlying molecular, genetic, and epigenetic pathologies of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and to translate this basic understanding into the clinic through development of FSHD therapeutics. To achieve this objective, the Wellstone Center has established a large repository of FSHD muscle tissue and derived muscle cells, available to FSHD researchers worldwide. The developed FSHD disease biomarker database and new disease models for pre-clinical research develop FSHD therapeutics for clinical trials.
	Emerson Lab Charles Emerson Jr., PhD, Professor Wellstone Center and Emerson Lab Research Faculty -Lawrence Hayward, MD, PhD, Professor -Oliver King, PhD, Assistant Professor -Dongsheng Guo, PhD, Instructor -Katelyn Daman, PhD, Senior Scientist