We are thrilled to announce our 2016 Emerging Investigator Awards (EIA) research grantees:
- Dr. Sara Gombash Lampe, The Ohio State University: SMN deficient enteric submucosal neurons and gastrointestinal function in SMA
- Sarah Tisdale, Columbia University: Role of SMN in cytoplasmic mRNA regulation
- Anne Rietz, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis: Investigation of potential post-translational modifications of SMN by a novel small molecule
We started the EIA program four years ago in partnership with FightSMA after recognizing that SMA research was entering a brand new chapter. Several programs were moving to clinical trials with several more on the way. For a rare disease, this is an incredible milestone and one that should be celebrated. But we wanted to make sure that we weren’t resting on our laurels and leaving SMA research with a blindspot on new talent to continue moving SMA research forward beyong the programs in the pipeline.
We developed the EIA program to focus exclusively on that area. To put much needed research funding directly in the hands of the next generation of research super-stars interested in devoting their careers to SMA.
Together, FightSMA and theGSF have funded over $650,000 in research grants in the first four years of the EIA program. We’re incredibly proud of the impact it has made and the will continue to make on the very exciting SMA research landscape.
Thank you to all of the incredible investigators for submitting applications this year. And congratulations to our 2016 EIA grantees.