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Muscular Dystrophy Association welcomes Barry J. Byrne, Md, Phd to board of directors

Leading Pediatric Cardiologist and MDA Chief Medical Advisor to Help Guide the Future of Neuromuscular Care and Research

New York, NY – Tuesday, September 10, 2024, The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is proud to announce the appointment of Barry J. Byrne, MD, PhD, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Byrne is the Associate Chair of Pediatrics and Director of the Powell Gene Therapy Center at the University of Florida, a distinguished pediatric cardiologist and geneticist, and currently serves as MDA's Chief Medical Advisor, where he oversees the MDA Care Center Network—the only nationwide network providing comprehensive multidisciplinary care for the neuromuscular community.

In his new role on the Board of Directors, Dr. Byrne will continue his commitment to advancing MDA’s mission of empowering the lives of people living with neuromuscular diseases. His leadership and expertise will be instrumental in guiding the organization’s strategic initiatives including care and research programs.

Governor Brad Henry, Chairman of the MDA Board of Directors, expressed his enthusiasm for Dr. Byrne’s appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Barry Byrne to the Board of Directors. His deep understanding of neuromuscular diseases and his unparalleled dedication to patient care and research make him an invaluable asset to our leadership team. We look forward to his continued contributions as we continue to drive progress for the neuromuscular community.”

Donald S. Wood, PhD, President and CEO of MDA, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Dr. Byrne has been a pivotal figure in MDA’s efforts to expand and enhance the distinguished MDA Care Center Network, ensuring that people living with neuromuscular diseases receive the highest standard of care. His appointment to the Board of Directors is a natural progression of his commitment to our mission, and we are fortunate to have him guiding us through novel gene therapy treatments this organization helped to create and continues to accelerate.”

Dr. Byrne expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve on the Board, saying, “It is an incredible honor to join the Board of Directors of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. My entire career has been made possible by the support and innovation driven by MDA care and research, and I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to give back to the organization that has played such a crucial role in my professional journey. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to continue advancing MDA’s mission and improving the lives of the people and families we serve.”

Dr. Byrne’s appointment underscores MDA’s commitment to fostering a leadership team that is deeply connected to the organization’s mission and the communities it serves.

About Barry J. Byrne, MD, PhD

Dr. Barry Byrne is the Associate Chair of Pediatrics and Director of the Powell Gene Therapy Center at the University of Florida. After obtaining a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Denison University, he pursued his medical education, as well as a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, at the University of Illinois. He completed his pediatric residency, cardiology fellowship training and post-doctoral training in Biological Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. Joining the University of Florida in 1997, he has served in a variety of clinical, research and educational roles, and is now the Earl and Christy Powell University Chair in Genetics.

Dr. Byrne is currently conducting numerous clinical research studies for a variety of rare diseases, with specific attention to developing therapies for inherited muscle disease. As a pediatric cardiologist, his focus is on conditions that lead to skeletal muscle weakness, cardiac dysfunction and respiratory dysfunction. His research team has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of Pompe disease, a type of muscular dystrophy resulting from abnormal glycogen accumulation in the muscle. His current research has focused on developing new therapies using the missing cellular protein or the corrective gene to restore muscle and neurological function in Pompe, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Friedreich’s ataxia and other inherited neuromuscular diseases.

About Muscular Dystrophy Association

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is the #1 voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and over 300 related neuromuscular conditions. For nearly 75 years, MDA has led the way in accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating for the support of our families. MDA's mission is to empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives. To learn more visit mda.org and follow MDA on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.