KDA Supplies Emergency Funding of Kennedy's Disease Research

On December 21, the KDA awarded a $25,000 grant to J. Paul Taylor, MD, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania.  The grant will help support Dr. Taylor and his team's research using the Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly) model system to investigate the molecular pathogenesis of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (aka Kennedy's Disease).  To read more about this research, click on the following two links: 

http://www.kennedysdisease.org/fruitfly.html; http://www.kennedysdisease.org/fruitfly_update.html. 

In response to the KDA's notice of the possible funding of two grants in 2006, we received the following email from Dr. Taylor referencing the status of his current Kennedy's Disease research.  "... This (grant) could be a life saver .  We have made great strides with our work, in fact we have a manuscript on our Kennedy's Disease work that has received good reviews.  This work was largely funded by (the) KDA and I have been anxiously waiting for this work to be accepted for publication before alerting you.  I have also had two graduate students join my lab who are doing their Ph.D. thesis work on Kennedy's Disease. 

However, I am greatly concerned about the NIH funding climate.  I submitted an R01 application ... and it scored well (13th percentile which is extremely good for a first submission).  However, because of NIH budget constraints, the pay line was just cut to 12% and I learned this past week that we will not be funded.  I am resubmitting my application ... and trying to be as optimistic as possible, but if I am not funded, I am concerned that my lab could close. ..." 

To learn more about the NIH funding situation and its impact on research projects, please read the November 15, 2005, Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper article:  http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13086779.htm.   

In November 2003, the KDA initially awarded Dr. Taylor a grant for this research.  After reviewing the current situation and consulting with members of our Scientific Review Board, the KDA Board of Directors felt the need to continue funding Dr. Taylor's research while he applies for additional funding from the NIH.   

In closing, I want to thank you, our Associates, for your generosity and support of Kennedy's Disease research.  Without it, we could have never supported this research project.   

Working together, we can make a difference.