Research Updates

New Research Alert: GRASP-001 Study

A team of LGMD researchers, called the GRASP-LGMD Consortium, published the baseline results of their LGMD2A/R1 clinical outcome study in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. The study, which was funded in part by a research grant from Coalition to Cure Calpain 3, enrolled 42 individuals across 11 international sites. Each participant completed several measures of their physical abilities as well as surveys indicating how symptoms of LGMD2A/R1 affect their lives.

A Critical Step in Preparing for Future Clinical Trials

The goal of the study, called GRASP-001, is to identify measures of muscle function called clinical outcome assessments (COAs) that can be used in clinical trials for LGMD2A/R1. Ideal COAs must be reliable and valid for evaluating weakness associated with this condition. The COAs identified in the study can be incorporated into the design of future trials to test if an investigational drug is effective.

Multiple Promising COAs

The researchers identified multiple COAs that reliably evaluate the functional abilities of individuals with LGMD2A/R1. These include:

  • The North Star Assessment for Limb-Girdle-Type Dystrophies (NSAD): a multi-item test that assesses the ability to do tasks related to daily living, such as standing up from a seated position. Suitable for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.
  • The Performance of Upper Limb (PUL): an assessment of shoulder, elbow, and hand function. Suitable for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.
  • The 100-Meter Timed Test: the fastest a subject can travel 100 meters by walking and/or running.

Such measures could be used alone or in combination, depending on which is most appropriate for the trial and participant abilities.

What’s Next?

The data published in this study are from baseline visits. Researchers are now analyzing the visits that occurred 6-months and 12-months after the initial visits. This will help them understand if the COAs capture changes in function over time. A new study, GRASP-003, has been launched to include additional participants.


Recent Posts

  • New Research Alert! "The Energy Switch"

    A new paper, “CaMKIIβ Signaling drives expression of metabolic and stress response genes in skeletal muscle, and its loss contributes to the LGMDR1 phenotype,” was recently published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics. It was authored by a multi-institutional group led by Dr. Melissa Spencer, C3 Scientific Advisory Board Chair and Professor of Neurology and... Read More
    Jennifer Levy Research Updates

  • C3 on Capitol Hill: LGMD Day on the Hill 2026

    C3 was proudly represented in Washington, D.C. at the 2026 LGMD Day on the Hill, hosted by The Speak Foundation. C3 Advocacy Chair Melina Garza was selected as a 2026 delegate and had the privilege of leading the Texas and North Carolina delegation through a packed day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. The day began... Read More
    Michele Wrubel Advocacy