Introduction

The MD-CARE Act authorized NIH to establish centers of excellence for muscular dystrophy research, and NIH currently funds six Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers at the University of Washington, the University of Rochester, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Iowa, Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC, and the University of Pennsylvania/Johns Hopkins University. These Centers are supported by cooperative agreements with three of the NIH institutes; the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases , the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke . The Muscular Dystrophy Association has provided additional funds to expand the research at these Centers. The Wellstone Centers promote side-by-side basic, translational, and clinical research and provide resources that can be used by the national muscular dystrophy research community. They also serve as focal points for research collaborations, training and communication. Collectively the centers are engaged in research on Duchenne/Becker, myotonic dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral, limb-girdle, congenital and other forms of muscular dystrophy. They are exploring promising approaches for treatment of these diseases including gene, stem cell, pharmacological and molecular therapies. The Wellstone External Advisory Committee provides guidance to the NIH on issues involving the centers.