According to a story from newswise.com, the American Neuromuscular Foundation has recently awarded a grant to Dr. Karissa Gable. This grant will go towards a research project headed by Dr. Gable that will focus on the immune regulatory cell pathology of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, a rare neuromuscular disorder. The organization awards grants that are geared towards the support of research that prioritizes disorders that affect the muscles and nerves.
About Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder which is most characterized by inflammation of the peripheral nervous system. It is closely related to Guillain-Barré syndrome, and in effect is a long-term, chronic form of that disease. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy body tissue by mistake. Symptoms of the disorder include difficulty walking, tingling or numbness, nerve pain, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, loss of reflexes, and poor balance. Treatment for the disease often includes corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapharesis, or other drugs that can suppress the immune system. Physical therapy can produce improved muscle strength; when immune system suppressants are not effective, stem cell transplant may be considered. The disease tends to relapse and remit sporadically. To learn more about chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, click here.
Room for Improvement
Dr. Gable has significant experience treating patients with this rare inflammatory disorder. This experience has led Karissa to conclude that the immune system mechanism that drive the disease is still not well understood. She hopes that her study will allow for a more clear understanding of the disease pathology that can help inform treatment and predict outcomes for patients.
The grant will allow for a year of funding towards the project and will also include a year’s membership to the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine as well as a complimentary registration to the group’s regular meeting that will also cover travel costs. If things go as expected, Karissa aims to present her findings at the event in 2020.
She says she was motivated to apply for the grant after some preliminary data gave her a better understanding of how to move forward in her investigation.
