Genetic discoveries have been guiding dystonia research for a number of years now. Typically, once new genes have been discovered a quest for understanding the role of their corresponding proteins begins.

A separate line of studies explores the musician’s dystonia thanks to the James C. Kilik Memorial Research Awards. In one of the projects, Robert Chen at the University of Toronto (Canada) is investigating how modulating the functional connectivity of the cerebellum affect musician's dystonia

Yet another form of dystonia is called the myoclonus-dystonia (MD). In a separate program, supported by the Brown Family Foundation, several projects are underway or close to completion.

Several groups study functional changes in dystonia using neurophysiological approaches studying the entire human or animal brain. William Hutchison at Toronto Western Hospital (Canada) studies tremor, oscillations and synaptic plasticity in dystonia patients undergoing DBS.

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