Improving Quality of Life for Children with Neuromuscular Disorders

The Neuromuscular Development Group at Cincinnati Children’s leads innovative research on the development, function and disorders of the neuromuscular system. Our multidisciplinary team unites expertise from five research divisions to explore the underlying mechanisms that govern muscle and nerve development. These divisions include:

• Anesthesia Research: Integrating clinical and basic science to improve anesthesia care and pain management for pediatric patients. Learn more about Anesthesia Research.
• Developmental Biology Research: Investigating cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms of embryonic development to understand the causes of congenital diseases and advance stem cell research for regenerative medicine. Learn more about Developmental Biology Research.
• Molecular Cardiovascular Biology Research: Examines molecular mechanisms of heart and muscle development, including heart regeneration and cardiomyopathies. Learn more about Molecular Cardiovascular Biology Research.
• Neurosurgery Research: Merging basic and clinical research to understand neurologic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and head and spine injuries. Learn more about Neurosurgery Research.
• Orthopaedics Research: Conducting basic research and clinical studies to enhance musculoskeletal health, targeting areas such as spine conditions, growth plate development, sports medicine, limb deformities and trauma. Learn more about Orthopaedics Research.

Communication among various cell types is crucial to build and maintain a healthy neuromuscular system. Similarly, our collaborative approach strengthens our research efforts, helping us to investigate muscle and nerve development more effectively.

Collaboration and Innovation

The group meets monthly to present research findings and foster collaboration. Our research is dedicated to transforming clinical care and improving quality of life for children with neuromuscular disorders, focusing on:

• Muscle and nerve communication: Exploring how nerve and muscle cells interact to create and maintain functional neuromuscular connections
• Pioneering treatment: Developing novel therapies and interventions to address neuromuscular health
• Collaborative excellence: Partnering with researchers worldwide to advance pediatric neuromuscular disorder treatments

Our goal is to understand childhood neuromuscular diseases—such as neonatal brachial plexus palsy, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy and neuromuscular pain—and to translate findings into groundbreaking therapies that improve patient outcomes.