Kilroy's End Muscular Dystrophy
Donation protected
My name is Elisabeth Kilroy. I am a PhD student in the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering at the University of Maine, where my goal is to continue advancing the road to a cure for muscular dystrophy.
Each type of muscular dystrophy is identified based on the gene and the protein that is affected. By knowing the gene and protein, their function can be studied in unaffected muscle in order to understand how the protein behaves normally and then in affected muscle in order to understand how the loss of this protein results in dystrophy. Most importantly, though, by thoroughly understanding the role of the protein in the muscle, therapeutics that limit the dystrophy can be developed.
For my father and brother, the gene and protein that are causing their muscles to become dystrophic is not known and, therefore, the protein's function cannot be studied nor can therapeutics that limit the dystrophy be created. However, I have the ability to create an animal model that carries the exact mutation that has caused both my father and brother to end their athletic careers and even their ability to tie their own shoes. By creating an animal model, it is then possible to study the entire disease process.
The money raised here will be used for identifying the gene by DNA sequencing. While this is the first step of many, being able to start the road to understanding this unknown type of muscular dystrophy is truly a dream come true.
I am forever thankful to each and every one of you who donate.
Each type of muscular dystrophy is identified based on the gene and the protein that is affected. By knowing the gene and protein, their function can be studied in unaffected muscle in order to understand how the protein behaves normally and then in affected muscle in order to understand how the loss of this protein results in dystrophy. Most importantly, though, by thoroughly understanding the role of the protein in the muscle, therapeutics that limit the dystrophy can be developed.
For my father and brother, the gene and protein that are causing their muscles to become dystrophic is not known and, therefore, the protein's function cannot be studied nor can therapeutics that limit the dystrophy be created. However, I have the ability to create an animal model that carries the exact mutation that has caused both my father and brother to end their athletic careers and even their ability to tie their own shoes. By creating an animal model, it is then possible to study the entire disease process.
The money raised here will be used for identifying the gene by DNA sequencing. While this is the first step of many, being able to start the road to understanding this unknown type of muscular dystrophy is truly a dream come true.
I am forever thankful to each and every one of you who donate.
Organizer
Elisabeth Ann Kilroy
Organizer
Orono, ME
