Promising Results Shared at Marzolf Symposium at U of M

Posted on December 1, 2009 by admin

Presenters are joined by Dr. John Day, Dr. Joe Metzger, Pat Marzolf and Greg Marzolf, Sr.

It was standing room only at the Second Annual Marzolf Graduate Student Symposium. Held at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone MD Center on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at the Nils Hasselmo Hall on the University of Minnesota Campus. This half-day program gave approximately 100 medical graduate and post-doctoral students the opportunity to share their research findings and updates of diagnostic testing done in lab settings by experts in the fields of neuro-muscular and cardiac medicine.

Dr. John Day, Director of the Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center and Professor of Neurology, welcomed the attendees enthusiastically, saying “All of these studies are inter-related and build on one another. These graduate level students are focused on muscular studies that will lead to treatment regimens that will result in improved length and quality of life for MD patients.” Continue reading →

Grant Recipient Profile: Lisa Anne Borgia

Posted on August 24, 2009 by admin

Lisa Anne Borgia is a recipient of the Greg Marzolf Jr. Trainee award and is currently conducting muscle research on horses, which may provide beneficial
clinic information to scientists studying muscular dystrophy. She has her master’s degree in Avian Ecology from Florida International University, and a bachelor’s of science degree in Biology and a bachelor’s of science degree in Communication from Penn State. Lisa is in her last year of the PhD program in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She lives in Minnetrista, Minn., is married and has a 24-year-old son who is currently in law school. We asked Lisa the following questions about her research:

Q: Can you summarize your research project?

A: My research looks at the effects of dietetics (specifically oil supplementation and carbohydrate content) on horses with a neuromuscular disease called Polysaccharide Storage myopathy, as well as muscle energetics in normal horses and the effect of training on normal muscle tissue. Continue reading →

Ciao! Translates into Success for Foundation

Posted on January 30, 2009 by admin

On Saturday, January 24, 2009 the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation hosted the first annual “A Cause to Cook for a Cure: Ciao!” at Town and Country Club in St. Paul, Minn. Although it was a cold winter night in Minnesota, the air was full of energy and excitement fueled by great food, laughter, games, and fun.

Prizes were won and fun was had at all of the “stations,” including wine tasting, cake walk, mystery bags, prize packages donated by Green Mill Restaurants, Wine Merchants, R.F. Moeller Jeweler, Hobbit Travel, the Twins and the Wild. Attendees occasionally took time out from their game playing and mingling to enjoy the veritable smorgasbord of Italian food including pasta, garlic bread and, of course, gnocchi.

Due to the success of the “Ciao!”, the foundation was able to raise $30,000 for muscular dystrophy research at the University of Minnesota and the Marzolf Trainee Program. It’s important to note that events like Ciao! are a large undertaking and the foundation would like to thank the planning committee for their hard work and sponsors for their financial and in-kind support particularly Bremer Bank, Decko Products and Fishbowl Solutions.