Dr. Christopher Heier Awarded Two New Research Grants to Advance Biomarker Discovery in Muscular Dystrophy
Dr. Christopher Heier (far left) with members of the Heier Laboratory in the Graduate Program of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at VCU. Standing second from right is Dr. Alyson A. Fiorillo, co-principal investigator and research collaborator.
By: Anna Kovilakath, PhD
Department of CMGM
VCU School of Medicine
Email: anna.kovilakath@vcuhealth.org
Date: October 14, 2025
Dr. Christopher Heier, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular, Molecular, and Genetic Medicine, was recently awarded two major research grants that will advance biomarker discovery and therapeutic development for muscular dystrophies. Together, these awards total nearly $1.9 million in new research funding and highlight the Heier Laboratory’s innovative work in translational neuromuscular biology.
The first, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), titled “Longitudinal Assessment of Molecular and Imaging Biomarkers in LGMDR1,” will support the identification and validation of biomarkers for Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type R1 (LGMDR1). This progressive muscle disease, caused by mutations in the calpain 3 gene, currently has no approved therapies. Dr. Heier’s project seeks to bridge the gap between rapid advances in gene therapy development and the tools needed to measure therapeutic success in patients.
Through the NIH R01, the Heier Lab will longitudinally assess patients with LGMDR1 to benchmark molecular, biochemical, and imaging biomarkers against functional clinical outcomes. By integrating muscle biopsy assays, serum discovery proteomics, and MRI-based imaging, the study aims to identify reliable surrogate endpoints that can accelerate future clinical trials. The project leverages the established GRASP-LGMD Research Network, which unites 12 clinical sites with standardized evaluator training, allowing for large-scale, multicenter biomarker validation in collaboration with ongoing natural history studies.
In addition to the NIH award, Dr. Heier received a $250,000 research grant from the Coalition to Cure Calpain 3 Foundation (C3 Foundation) for his project titled “Comparative Proteomics of LGMD2A and BMD to Develop Serum Protein Biomarkers and Predict Drug Responsiveness in LGMD2A.” This study will employ comparative proteomics to identify shared and disease-specific serum biomarkers in Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) and Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2A (LGMD2A). This approach will provide insights into drug responsiveness and pave the way for repurposing therapies such as vamorolone as a potential treatment for LGMD2A.
Dr. Heier’s research program focuses broadly on developing next-generation treatments for genetic diseases of muscle, with particular emphasis on steroid signaling, biomarker discovery, and molecular mechanisms of muscle inflammation and repair. His lab employs state-of-the-art techniques—including proteomics, gene expression profiling, ChIP-seq, CRISPR models, and live imaging—to translate fundamental molecular insights into therapeutic advances.
Before joining Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Heier was an Assistant Professor of Genomics and Precision Medicine at Children’s National Hospital and The George Washington University. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Northwestern University and his B.S. in Biology from Indiana University.
These new awards exemplify the Heier Laboratory’s commitment to bridging discovery science and clinical application in muscular dystrophy research. By developing non-invasive, mechanism-based biomarkers and precision tools for therapeutic evaluation, Dr. Heier’s work is helping to lay the foundation for effective, patient-centered treatments for rare muscle diseases.