In June, we proudly hosted our first ever PhD Network Day; a new initiative bringing together emerging researchers who are dedicating their careers to understanding and treating muscle wasting conditions.
Behind every breakthrough in research is a story – of curiosity, dedication, and hope. This event brought together the next generation of scientists whose work could change lives.
Our brilliant researchers are not just working in labs. They’re shaping the future of how we understand, treat, and care for people living with muscle wasting conditions. And this event was all about giving them the tools, confidence, and connections to thrive.
Supporting new researchers isn’t just about funding their projects. It’s about equipping them with the tools they need to succeed. Many of the essential skills for a research career, like communicating with the public, writing funding applications, or building networks, aren’t always covered in university programmes. That’s why events like our PhD Network Day are so important.
By supporting these students, we’re investing in a future where people with muscle wasting conditions can access the care, treatment and support they need to live well.
The day was packed with practical skills and powerful conversations. Highlights included:
The students also had the chance to hear directly from someone living with a muscle wasting condition. Tahira, one of our volunteers, shared her story of living with GNE myopathy.
Her talk brought a powerful perspective to the day – reminding everyone in the room why their research matters, and who it’s for. Her honesty, strength, and encouragement left a lasting impression on the students, helping them connect their lab work to the real lives they hope to impact.
“Hearing Tahira’s inspiring talk and her passion about the research being done is something that I will take with me going forward in my PhD.”
Each student brought their own story, their own motivation, and their own vision for the future of research into muscle wasting conditions.
My interest in research began with my own health struggles. Knowing something’s going wrong inside your body, but being unable to control it, is hard. I wanted to contribute to research that creates tangible outcomes that help individuals.
My project explores whether reducing stress signals and increasing the supply of essential building blocks (amino acids) could help treat mitochondrial myopathies.
I’ve always loved staying active, and I know how important that is for wellbeing. But for people with muscle wasting conditions, that experience is often limited.
People with muscle wasting conditions should be able to enjoy life with as minimal disruptions as possible, and I want to help make that happen. My research focuses on developing a gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy that targets the most common gene changes in the condition and could benefit more people living with it.
Since I’ve started doing this PhD, I go to bed excited to come to work every day.
I’m studying whether increasing protein intake, through food or supplements, can improve muscle strength, size, and quality of life in people with Becker muscular dystrophy. I’m passionate about the potential for nutrition to make a real difference in people’s lives.
My grandfather died of an undiagnosed muscular dystrophy, and my cousin sadly passed away from DMD. Having that personal connection to the conditions really drew me to this project.
I’m working on a gene therapy for Becker muscular dystrophy, aiming to slow or delay progression and reduce the risk of early heart complications.
I’ve always loved solving complex problems. Research gives me the chance to ask difficult questions and find answers that could make a real difference to people’s lives.
My project focuses on developing a gene therapy for periodic paralysis, with the goal of reducing muscle weakness and improving daily life for people living with this rare condition.
Each of these students are at the beginning of a journey that could lead to life-changing discoveries – and we’re proud to support them every step of the way.
As their projects progress, we’ll be sharing updates, breakthroughs, and behind-the-scenes stories. Stay connected to see how their work is shaping the future of muscle wasting research – and the lives it could change.
