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Spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the number one genetic cause of death in infants. Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are leading cutting-edge studies to improve our understanding of SMA and develop better treatments. This page includes selected news stories about our SMA research, links to researchers working in this area and related resources. Learn more below.

Research News


Whole-body approach needed to treat neuromuscular disease SMA
July 13, 2022 - Treating a patient’s entire body, not just the nerves in their muscles, is essential for the complete treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a study led by Aoife Reilly in Dr. Rashmi Kothary’s group.
Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded eight grants worth $5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
August 10, 2021 - These projects will advance science and improve health in areas such as cancer immunotherapy, orthopedic surgery, long-term care, neuromuscular disease, blood clots, vascular disease, aging, kidney disease and Inuit health.
New mouse model to reveal insights into mild spinal muscular atrophy
June 4, 2020 - Dr. Marc-Olivier Deguise from Dr. Rashmi Kothary’s team has developed a new mouse model of mild spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Until now, researchers only had good animal models of the most severe forms of this disease.
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