Update: Motor Outcomes to Validate Evaluations in FSHD

Report by Dr. Statland
See also Motor Outcomes to Validate Evaluations in FSHD (MOVE FSHD)

The primary goal of our Motor Outcomes to Validate Evaluations in FSHD (MOVE FSHD) study is to hasten therapeutic development for FSHD and improve care delivery by determining the predictive value of clinical characteristics and motor assessments on health outcomes (i.e., need for orthotics, ambulation aides, respiratory support, etc.). The purpose of this study is to understand functional motor assessments, define which assessments are meaningful to people with FSHD, and if certain values of outcome assessments help predict future motor or health outcomes. MOVE FSHD is also unique in that it is truly meant to include all individuals with FSHD. Including those with FSHD type 2, children, and those who are in a wheelchair.

In our current study, despite an ongoing international pandemic, we have made considerable progress over the first 24 months.  We are pleased to announce we have enrolled 185 participants, and plan to have all our planned 240 participants enrolled by the end of 2022.  This large study would be a big achievement in the FSHD community, a reality that has in a large part made this possible is the support from Friends of FSH Research.  Additionally, the MOVE FSHD study has also attracted the notice of industry and other funders – and we were able to increase number of FSHD participants to 450 and add the MOVE+ sub-study that includes whole-body MRI and additional biomarkers, which are essential to accelerate future FSHD drug development.