Kirkland-based Friends of FSH Research and the Muscular Dystrophy Association announced a $200,000 collaborative research grant “Therapeutic Targets for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (or FSH).”

This groundbreaking collaboration of these two organizations was made possible by Valerie A. Cwik, MD, the executive vice president of the MDA. The president of Friends of FSH Research, Terry Colella, of Kirkland, said: “I am very grateful to Dr. Cwik for her willingness to work with our organization to make this special grant possible. I feel that this is a very positive step forward for FSH research. I am pleased that the MDA will be actively promoting FSH research by utilizing their large communication network as they send a call out to researchers.”

Colella further stated that this grant’s aim is to “stimulate new scientific interest in FSH research. With the help of the MDA’s network we have a much better opportunity to connect with scientists worldwide that may have the expertise and ideas needed to move this research forward.”

The generous support given to Friends of FSH Research has made it possible for them to collaborate with the MDA and provide this $200,000 two year grant opportunity, $100,000 per year for 2 years. Proposals are being invited, under a competitive Request for Applications process at the MDA. For information, visit www.fshfriends.org.