Team FD/MAS 2024 Research Grants Announced

FD/MAS Alliance is thrilled to share that two FD/MAS research grants have been awarded from Team FD/MAS’s 2024 Million Dollar Bike Ride efforts! 

Last spring, Team FD/MAS raised over $120,000 for FD/MAS-focused research through the UPenn Orphan Disease Center’s Million Dollar Bike Ride. After careful review of several applications by the FD/MAS Alliance’s Scientific Advisory Council and the UPenn Orphan Disease Center’s staff, two grants have been awarded:

• Dr. Ariane Zamarioli of Ribeirao Preto Medical School will receive $40,234.00 for her project “Elucidating a link between microfractures and fibrous dysplasia bone pain in mice.”“We are delighted with our research grant award from the 2024 Million Dollar Bike Ride. Our project, will help us to understand the mechanisms behind bone pain in FD/MAS.” says Dr. Zamarioli, “Considering that bisphosphonates remain a key strategy for managing bone pain in FD, our study will examine how these medications impact bone structure and mechanical strength in FD mice.”

• Dr. J. Silvio Gutkind of the University of California, San Diego, will receive $80,468.00 for his project “Targeting GNAS-Driven Pathway for Precision Therapy of Fibrous Dysplasia.”“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the FD/MAS community on our exciting new project.” says Gutkind, “Our goals are to elucidate the precise mechanisms driving the development of FD/MAS, and to exploit this information to identify new treatment strategies for FD/MAS.Specifically, we will investigate how GNAS mutations promotes FD/MAS development at the single-cell resolution, and explore targeting the GNAS-initiated signaling network with a new class of PKA inhibitors to prevent (and revert) FD/MAS lesions. We are grateful to the 2024 Million Dollar Bike Ride for supporting our planned studies!”

These research projects have been made possible by the FD/MAS community and the over 150 donors who have given to support these grants. Special thanks to Cindi Brandt Levin, who acted as captain for Team FD/MAS as well as the Healy family and Aurelie Lagneau of Association MAS/FD for their significant contributions. We are so grateful. 

Team FD/MAS has participated in the Million Dollar Bike Ride for 10 years and raised over 1.3 million dollars.

Team FD/MAS is especially committed to community-driven research as more and more Team FD/MAS awardees go on to secure larger funding from the NIH and other federal research programs.   “Each year we see a competitive pool of applicants for these pilot grants and it’s gratifying to see that the research Team FD/MAS has funded continues to make progress,” said Dr. Mike Collins, FD/MAS Alliance Scientific Advisory Council Chair. The awardees this year include a junior investigator, Dr. Ariane Zamarioli, who is relatively new to the field, and a senior investigator, Dr. J. Silvio Gutkind, whose attention is returning to FD/MAS.”

Research without funding cannot bring advances in FD/MAS care, and this year’s awardees were very grateful to be able to move the science forward, thanks to this funding. “We are very excited to contribute to a deeper understanding of this disease.” said Dr. Ariane Zamarioli.  Dr. Gutkind was also thrilled with the opportunity to advance his project, saying “ We are mindful of the urgency and direct clinical implications of our research.”

The proliferation of FD/MAS research is exciting and keeps Team FD/MAS determined to bring more treatment options to those living with FD/MAS. Team Captain Cindi Brandt Levin remains hopeful: “I am incredibly grateful for all of the supporters of Team FD/MAS and the dedicated researchers funded through the Million Dollar Bike Ride. Each year we have made significant strides towards a brighter future and my ultimate goal of finding treatments and a cure  for FD/MAS patients.”

Please stay tuned for more news of Team FD/MAS in 2025 and our continued commitment to advancing FD/MAS research.