Muscular dystrophies are a diverse group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Dr. Moore is involved in the evaluation of patient biopsies and in research partially funded through a center grant from NIH. This Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center is exploring therapeutic strategies for the treatment of various muscular dystrophies by enabling translational research on muscular dystrophies and providing advanced diagnostic services. The MDCRC is composed of two research projects, three cores and investigators with a proven track record of excellence and collaboration. The Center researchers' studies and facilities will explore basic biological mechanisms that relate to possible treatments for muscular dystrophies, facilitate translational research on muscular dystrophies and provide advanced diagnostic services to patients and clinical trial participants. The Director and Co-director, Kevin Campbell and Steven Moore, are investigators with established records in basic, translational, and clinical research on muscular dystrophy.