Strengthening Duchenne Care Through Clinical Collaboration and Community Focus: Brenda L. Wong, MD

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

"Close to my heart is clinical care. And I would say that at the conference, we have seen the sessions for clinical care grow into topics that really meet the needs of our Duchenne and Becker community.”

The 2025 CureDuchenne FUTURES National Conference, held May 22–25 in San Antonio, Texas, provided educational sessions and community engagement opportunities for patients and families affected by Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The event featured presentations from experts across research, health care, and biotechnology, covering current developments in the field. In addition to scientific updates, the conference included programming tailored to various family experiences, including sessions for newly diagnosed individuals, single parents, siblings, adults with Duchenne, and those managing behavioral challenges.¹

Building on its commitment to advancing care for the Duchenne and Becker community, CureDuchenne recently announced the appointment of neuromuscular expert Brenda Wong, MD, as its new chief medical advisor, effective January 5, 2026. In her new role, the organization noted that Wong will guide clinical strategies, collaborate with industry partners on trial design, and contribute to the development of care standards that reflect the evolving needs of patients and families. She recently attended the 2025 FUTURES National Conference, where she lead sessions on clinical care, therapeutic innovation, and support for women and families affected by dystrophinopathies.²

Following the conference, Wong, director of the DMD Program at UMass Chan Medical School, sat down with NeurologyLive^® to reflect on the impact and evolution of the CureDuchenne’s FUTURES conference. She noted the growing attention to adult patients with Duchenne, the increasing focus on independence, and the need for tailored support for carriers, particularly mothers and sisters. Brenda also discussed the expanding role of care teams and the shift toward comprehensive, family-centric care models. As she transitions into a new advisory role, she expressed enthusiasm for contributing her experience to education, clinic development, and care innovation in the neuromuscular field.

REFERENCES
1. Global Nonprofit CureDuchenne to Host FUTURES National Conference for the Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy Community on May 22-25 in San Antonio, TX . News Release. CureDuchenne. Published April 17, 2025. Accessed June 13, 2025. https://cureduchenne.org/press-release/global-nonprofit-cureduchenne-to-host-futures-national-conference-for-the-duchenne-and-becker-muscular-dystrophy-community-on-may-22-25-in-san-antonio-tx/
2. CureDuchenne Appoints Brenda Wong, MD, as Chief Medical Advisor to Advance Research and Improve Care for Individuals with Duchenne and Becker. News Release. CureDuchenne. Published May 21, 2025. Accessed June 13, 2025. https://cureduchenne.org/press-release/cureduchenne-appoints-brenda-wong-md-aschief-medical-advisor-to-advance-research-and-improve-care-for-individuals-with-duchenne-and-becker-muscular-dystrophy