Winners of the Dr. Imelda de Groot Award 2024 announced

Today, December 1, 2024, the winners of the Dr. Imelda de Groot Award have been announced. This annual award is an initiative of Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands. It encourages innovative projects that contribute to better care for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We are proud to congratulate the winners and their projects.

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The award, consisting of a total of €10,000, is intended to support promising projects in their start-up or further development and implementation. This year, the jury, chaired by Dr. Imelda de Groot herself, selected projects that are not only innovative but also have a direct impact on the daily lives of people with DMD. This year, with many different projects from excellent quality, 2 projects have been awarded the Dr Imelda de Groot Award, sharing the winnings and the honor.

The winning projects

• Louise Blok, Leiden University Medical Center. This project, led by a medical student, investigates the development of scoliosis in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The goal is to identify risk factors and determine whether it is necessary to take annual X-rays at a young age.
• Graciela Mendez, Enlace Patient Organization Mexico. This project, led by Enlace, provides a comprehensive care model for patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. This model combines medical, social, emotional, educational, and work-related support, significantly improving the quality of life for children.

These projects illustrate how the community and science come together to break down barriers and improve the quality of life for DMD patients.

Duchenne Parent Project congratulates the winners of the Dr. Imelda de Groot Award 2024 and looks forward to the results of their projects.

About the Dr. Imelda de Groot Award

The award is named after Dr. Imelda de Groot, who retired in 2021 as a pediatric rehabilitation physician at Radboudumc. During her impressive career, she was the driving force behind various innovative research projects in the field of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, such as the well-known “No use is disuse” project, which focused on movement and physical activity. The award was established to inspire researchers and healthcare professionals to build upon this important work.

With the Dr. Imelda de Groot Award, Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands emphasizes the importance of innovation in healthcare. Thanks to this award, innovative ideas can become a reality, and we continue to work together toward a better future for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.