Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) Researchers Awarded
Columbia University has awarded the 2025 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize to Kevin Campbell, Louis Kunkel, and Eric Olson for discoveries that uncovered the causes of muscular dystrophy and paved the way for breakthrough treatments.
Muscular dystrophy, especially Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), is one of the most devastating genetic disorders, affecting about 1 in every 3,500–5,000 boys worldwide. Caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, the disease weakens skeletal and heart muscles, often robbing children of their ability to walk in adolescence and leading to life-threatening complications in early adulthood.
The story of how science unraveled this disease spans decades—and the three awardees played defining roles in it.
- Louis Kunkel identified the dystrophin gene in 1986, followed by the discovery of the protein it produces—a watershed moment that laid the foundation for nearly all subsequent research in DMD.
- Kevin Campbell revealed how dystrophin works with other proteins to stabilize muscle fibers, and how disruption of this system causes muscle fragility. His work explained the biological underpinnings of multiple muscular dystrophies.
- Eric Olson from UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered key genes that control how muscle cells grow and function. Building on these insights, his lab is now leading efforts to apply CRISPR-based gene editing and other innovative therapies to treat Duchenne and related disorders—approaches already moving toward clinical trials.
Together, their work exemplifies the journey from fundamental genetic discoveries to transformative therapeutic strategies. More than just advancing science, their research has brought new hope to families around the world living with muscular dystrophy.
The Horwitz Prize has long been a marker of future Nobel recognition—55 of the 118 previous awardees went on to win Nobel Prizes. Campbell, Kunkel, and Olson now join this distinguished tradition as the 119th, 120th, and 121st recipients.
The 2025 Horwitz Prize lectures and award ceremony will be held at Columbia University in March 2026.
Sources:
- https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/2025-horwitz-prize-awarded-muscular-dystrophy-research
- https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2025/sept-horwitz-prize.html
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