THE HISTORY OF FSHD

FSHD Global funds first grants:

Professor Christina Mitchell and her team received funding to study the role of FHL1, calcineurin and NFAT in reducing muscle wasting in FSHD. Work from this grant lead to a better understanding of the role of FHL1 in myoblast fusion.

Sydney IVF awarded funding to generate the first embryonic stem cell line with the FSHD mutations. These cells advanced research into FSHD around the world.

Baziel van Engelen and his team received funding to investigate biomarkers for FSHD to help with diagnosis and research into FSHD by providing researchers with markers that will measure treatment effect.

This work was able to characterise muscle features of FSHD that can be measured by MRI. This was part of a larger study that was looking at the effect of exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy for people with FSHD and chronic fatigue.

2016

FSHD Global provides funding for Dr Jean Mah to conduct a study into infantile FSHD, that is FSHD that effects children and adolescents.

2014

A study from the Netherlands estimated the prevalence of FSHD to be 12 per 100,000.

2014 – A study from the Netherlands estimated the prevalence of FSHD to be 12 per 100,000. A review of all contributions to the field of FSHD research is conducted and a consensus theory is developed for FSHD. FSHD Global funds Dr Davide Gabellini to create a new mouse model of FSHD using all the genetic material associated with the condition. This will create a better tool for the study of the process of FSHD and the development of new medicines to treat the condition. Following anecdotal reports of people with FSHD suffering severe fractures FSHD Global engaged with leading neurologists in the USA and Australia to run a study on the risk of bone fracture in people with FSHD. The study is registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02413190). Results from this study may help people with FSHD get access to medicines and treatments that support bone health, reducing the risk of fracture and improving quality of life. FSHD Global funds Australian researcher Dr Paul Gregorevic to investigation the potential of increasing bone morphogenic protein pathway to treat FSHD. As part of this project they are creating a new model of FSHD that better mimics the human condition. FSHD Global continues to provide funding for drug discovery projects by providing funding to Dr Yi-Wen Chen to investigate the effectiveness of two potential treatments for FSHD. FSHD Global provides Dr

2013

Mutations in SMCHD1 are shown to also modify FSHD symptoms in people with FSHD1

2012

Some (but not all) instances of FSHD2 are linked to mutations in a gene called SMCHD1.

2011

FSHD Global provides funds to further develop FSHD embryonic stem cells into skeletal muscle cells. This research identifies unique muscle development pathways that are being used to develop new therapies.

2010

Paper published in the journal Science reported the unifying genetic model of FSHD: that the underlying genetics of FSHD was mutations in the D4Z4 region lead to a ‘toxic gain of function’ in DUX4.

2009

FSHD1 and FSHD2 are used to describe FSHD symptoms that are associated with a reduction in D4Z4 repeats (FSHD1) and symptoms that are not associated with repeats (FSHD2)

2008

Prevalence* of FSHD estimated to be 4 per 100,000 by Orpha.net. Now estimated at 1 in 7,500

2007

FSHD Global Research Foundation established

2007

DUX4 is shown to be toxic to muscle cells and increased amounts of DUX4 are seen in muscle cells from people with FSHD

2003

The link between reduced D4Z4 regions and increased amounts of protein from genes in that area is first described.

1999

The DUX4 gene discovered

1998

Identical twins are discovered who have the exact same genetic mutation, but very different symptoms.

1996

FSHD Region Gene 1 (FRG1) is discovered beside the D4Z4

1994

Sequencing of the region associated with FSHD shows that it does contain a gene, but that the D4Z4 region does not.

1993

The region associated with FSHD is found to have multiple repeat units (D4Z4) with FSHD being associated with fewer than 11 D4Z4 units.

1992

FSHD is linked to recombination event that shortens a region in the 4q35 area

1991

FSHD is linked to alterations on the long arm of chromosome 4 near the tip (4q35)

1952

It was not until 1952 that a formal definition of the clinical features of FSHD was developed. This was based on a large family (1249 individuals!) from Utah who were affected by FSHD. The study was the first to describe the inheritance and the term FSHD was coined.

1886

The same physicians publish a paper on FSHD which describes the familial pattern of the condition.

1884

FSHD first described by French physicians Louis Landouzy and Joseph Dejerine.