Nationally ranked
U.S. News & World Report ranked our pediatric orthopaedic program 20th nationally in 2023–2024, in collaboration with Shriners Children’s Northern California, our longstanding partner on orthopedic disorders and spinal injuries.
First in California to offer life-changing therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
A 5-year-old UC Davis Children’s Hospital patient diagnosed with DMD is the first in California and fourth in the nation to receive groundbreaking gene therapy outside of clinical trials. The treatment, years in the making, brings hope to as many as 12,000 people in the U.S., mostly males, who live with DMD, one of the most severe types of muscular dystrophy. Being part of this historic moment was a career highlight for Craig McDonald, M.D., an award-winning researcher in the field of neuromuscular disorders.
Developing in-utero therapy for DMD
Aijun Wang, Ph.D., vice chair for translational research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Department of Surgery, and his team are collaborating with Murthy laboratory at UC Berkeley to develop a much-needed cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Using an in-utero gene editing formula that encodes dystrophin, a key protein in stabilizing muscle fiber, the plan is to edit genes in the heart, diaphragm, and limb muscles to correct DMD mutations before the onset of the disease. The groundbreaking work is funded by a $2 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
International study provides foundation for future DMD research
Researchers in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation launched an international study in collaboration with the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG) and Therapeutic Research in Neuromuscular Disorder Solutions (TRiNDS) on the natural history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The study will build a robust database on the progression of the disorder from patients around the world which will help provide future insight into DMD treatments.
