Dystonia Canada News

TORONTO, ON, October 31, 2023 — To address the dystonia community’s needs in a post-pandemic world, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) Canada has developed the innovative Community Support and Education Program. The program’s launch renews dystonia patients’ opportunities to learn, connect, and unite with each other. 

Utilizing DMRF Canada’s robust network of support groups across the country, the program connects members of the dystonia community through three impactful initiatives:

DMRF Canada is pleased to announce our continued support of the Banting Research Foundation Discovery Award Program for 2024.

The Banting Research Foundation Discovery Award, supported by DMRF Canada, is a one-year grant of up to $30,000 per year that will support research related to the causes, mechanisms, prevention, and treatments which could potentially enable medical breakthroughs and transformative health care advances to find a cure for dystonia.

August 2023

DMRF Canada is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Jackson Mooney Patient Grant for Dystonia (JMPG). This annual grant, established by Jackson and Jefferson Mooney, aims to provide financial assistance of up to $5,000.00 for Canadian residents living with dystonia in financial need and committed to enhancing their current situation through furthering their education.

This year, we are pleased to support a very worthy candidate:

Amanda Loewen 

Read more...

With the support of a very generous donor, DMRF Canada is facilitating a one-year, multi-center research project that will aim to validate a clinical and deep learning-based tool for recognition assessment and monitoring of complex movement disorders in dystonia patients.

“If successfully completed, this project will provide a dynamic system for unbiased diagnosis and clinical evaluation of dystonia and other movement disorders.” - DMRF Chief Scientific Advisor Jan Teller

Nationwide Survey of Patients and Families: Access to Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment available to some patients with certain motor disorders (Parkinson's Disease, essential tremor, primary dystonia) where a small device is implanted within the brain to help treat symptoms. A thorough assessment by a multidisciplinary team determines candidacy for this surgical treatment, as not all patients with these diagnoses would benefit from this therapy.

What is this survey about?

November 2, 2022 – Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) Canada is pleased to announce that once again it is supporting a two-year Clinical and Research Fellowship for Movement Disorders, with a specialty in Dystonia. Read more...

October 2022

DMRF Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Jackson Mooney Patient Grant for Dystonia (JMPG). This annual grant, established by Jackson and Jefferson Mooney, aims to provide financial assistance of up to $5,000.00 for Canadian residents living with dystonia in financial need and committed to enhancing their current situation through furthering their education.

This year, the JMPG Committee opted to provide funding for education to two very worthy candidates:

Astrid Frauscher 

The dystonia community had the chance to hear more about what Dr. JiaRen Chai, DMRF Canada Clinical and Research Fellow, has been up to since his Fellowship began in July 2021. JiaRen Chai, MD, London Movement Disorders Centre at the University of Western Ontario, provided an overview of his work to date in an exclusive DMRF Canada hosted webinar earlier this spring.