Christopher Cashman, MD, PhD, Receives ANF Development Grant for Research on

Christopher Cashman, MD, PhD, is an instructor at Harvard Medical School, assistant physician of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and clinical instructor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He has been awarded an American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Development Grant for his research project, “Acquired Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetic Neuropathy.”

Motivated by a report from the Centers for Disease Control in 2021 that stated 40% of Americans suffer from diabetes type 1 and 2 and that nearly half of these patients are expected to develop neuropathy, Dr. Cashman’s desire to investigate began. “Symptoms of neuropathy may lead to decreased quality of life as well as morbidity due to falls or other injuries. Currently, all therapies for non-inflammatory or inherited neuropathies are symptomatic, with no effective treatments available to slow or stop the progression. Given the many people predicted to have neuropathy, effective treatments are critical,” he says. 

Explaining neuropathy as dysfunction of the nerves in the body that leads to symptoms including pain, weakness, or numbness, Dr. Cashman says that many neuropathies are length-dependent and have a “stocking-glove” pattern of symptoms. “In this situation, the feet become symptomatic first, then symptoms slowly ascend to the knees, at which point the hands may become involved, as well,” he says. 

Dr. Cashman notes that diabetes is often associated with a length-dependent neuropathy, but how a systemic disorder like diabetes can lead to isolated symptoms in the ends of only the longest nerves remains unknown and that recent work has shown that an axon’s metabolism is critical for its maintenance. The goal of the “Acquired Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetic Neuropathy” project is to increase the understanding of how diabetes may lead to length-dependent neuropathy, particularly relating to the differential function and health of the mitochondria within the nerve. “My research is focused on the health of the mitochondria (primary source of energy in cells and axons) in the start and end of axons in a model of diabetes,” he says. 

Dr. Cashman believes this project lays the foundation for future work on diabetic and other length-dependent neuropathies by identifying fundamental processes that may drive their development. “With this improved understanding of diabetes, studies may be developed to investigate other neuropathies with different clinical features (such as inherited neuropathies),” he says. Dr. Cashman also believes this research will lead to a greater understanding of the standard and unique processes that drive different types of neuropathies and may lead to targeted therapeutic development. 

Grateful for ANF’s support through the Development Grant, Dr. Cashman says he can devote the necessary time toward the project. He looks forward to sharing his project results and connecting with the NM community through the ANF and at the AANEM Annual Meeting. “I am excited to work with the American Neuromuscular Foundation over the next 2 years in an effort to help the millions of patients with neuromuscular disease and neuropathy,” he says. 

Learn more about the ANF Development Grant, or how you can support researchers like Dr. Cashman today.