[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H4376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FINDING A CURE FOR DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

  (Mr. RUNYAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness about 
Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is a progressive muscle disorder 
for which there is no cure and affects boys disproportionately. 
According to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the disease affects 
approximately one in 3,500 live male births. Conditions of the disease 
include deterioration of the muscle tissue, abnormal bone development, 
paralysis, and eventually death.
  Earlier this year, my office was contacted by several families from 
my district whose young sons are living with Duchenne disease. Duchenne 
takes lives too quickly, but, due in large part to the research 
developments, there are three signs of hope.
  Over the last 5 years, Congress has appropriated $175 million to NIH 
for Duchenne efforts. In 2010, the NIH awarded three grants 
specifically to New Jersey institutions totaling $874,000. Two of the 
grants were awarded to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New 
Jersey to explore treatments for congenital diseases, and the third 
went to TRIM-edicine for research of protein therapies for muscular 
dystrophy.
  I hope these and other innovations bring us closer to finding the 
answers that we need to help and even cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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