Dr. Michio Hirano Honored with the 2026 Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Legacy Award for Achievement in Clinical Research

The Department of Neurology is pleased to congratulate Michio Hirano, MD, Lucy G. Moses Professor of Neurology, chief of the Neuromuscular Medicine Division, and director of the H. Houston Merritt Neuromuscular Research Center on receiving the 2026 Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Legacy Award. Each year, MDA honors leading figures for their groundbreaking contributions to neuromuscular research and patient care. Dr. Hirano was honored for his impactful discoveries, advancements in understanding diseases, and innovative treatments. “I have been very fortunate to work during a period of breathtaking advancements in neuromuscular diseases over the last three-plus decades,” says Dr. Hirano. “Together with multiple laboratory and clinical colleagues, our research team at Columbia has contributed to the field by identifying the genetic causes and investigating the molecular pathways leading to several mitochondrial neuromuscular diseases.” [read more]