Our Board Chair, Alicia Peconio, shares her personal experience navigating myasthenia gravis while balancing work, life, and the challenges that come with living with MG. Read her story, featured by the Myasthenia Gravis Association.
Research has changed what it means to live with myasthenia gravis. Over the past several decades, advances in diagnosis, our understanding of the immune system, and the development of new therapies have expanded options for people living with MG.
But there is still more to discover.
In 2026, Conquer MG remains committed to supporting research that can improve our understanding of myasthenia gravis, advance treatment options, and move us closer to a cure.
Through our work with MGNet, Conquer MG collaborates with researchers, academic institutions, pharmaceutical partners, and other patient advocacy organizations to support promising areas of MG research.
Our research funding has helped support early-stage projects and emerging investigators working to answer important questions about MG. By investing in research, we help create opportunities for new ideas to be explored and for the next generation of MG researchers to build on what we already know.
Many important discoveries begin with a question, a new idea, or preliminary research that needs additional support.
Pilot grants can give researchers the opportunity to test new approaches, gather preliminary data, and develop the foundation for larger studies. Supporting this early work can also help bring new investigators and perspectives into the field of myasthenia gravis research.
Conquer MG has supported MG research for more than a decade, funding innovative projects that have explored different aspects of the disease, including the immune system, B cells, inflammatory pathways, antibodies, potential treatment targets, and patient perspectives.
Beginning in 2020, Conquer MG began using research funding to co-fund the MGNet Pilot Grant Award, supporting projects in the early stages of development and investigators who are bringing new ideas to MG research. These grants are funded equally by Conquer MG, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.
Carolina Barnett-Tapia, MD, PhD
University of Toronto
Dr. Barnett-Tapia received the 2020 MGNet Pilot Award for her project, “Patient Preferences Regarding Symptoms and Side Effects from Treatments in Myasthenia Gravis: A Discrete Choice Experiment.”
The project explored how people living with MG weigh treatment symptoms and side effects and examined differences between patient and physician preferences. The research also considered how incorporating patient preferences could help inform clinical trial design and drug development.
Ruksana Huda, PhD, and Xiang Fang, MD, PhD
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Conquer MG supported their study, “Identifying Specific HDACs as Regulators of Inflammatory Gene Expression in Pathogenesis of Myasthenia Gravis.”
Betty Soliven, MD
University of Chicago
Conquer MG supported Dr. Soliven’s research examining the possible role of TGR5 and FXR in myasthenia gravis.
Kevin O’Connor, PhD
Yale University
Conquer MG supported Dr. O’Connor’s study, “Targeting the Pathogenic B Cells in Myasthenia Gravis.”
Michael Demetriou, MD, PhD
University of California, Irvine
Conquer MG funded research examining the “Immunomodulatory Effects of N-glycosylation in Myasthenia Gravis Patients.”
Conquer MG supported two pilot studies:
John Yi, PhD
Duke University
“Profiling of AChR-Specific B Cells in Myasthenia Gravis”
Henry Kaminski, MD
George Washington University
“Evaluation of IL-17A as a Therapeutic Target for Myasthenia Gravis”
A second-year grant was also awarded to Betty Soliven, MD, University of Chicago, for her study “Regulatory B Cells in Myasthenia Gravis.”
Conquer MG supported:
Betty Soliven, MD
University of Chicago
“Regulatory B Cells in Myasthenia Gravis”
David P. Richman, MD
University of California, Davis
“Monoclonal Antibody Treatment of Anti-MuSK Myasthenia”
These projects were selected because they explored novel questions and areas where additional research could open new avenues for understanding and treating MG.
Progress in MG research rarely happens overnight. Discoveries build on one another, with researchers across institutions and disciplines contributing pieces to a much larger picture.
Conquer MG’s role is to help support that process by investing in promising research and helping create opportunities for investigators to explore new ideas.
The research community continues to learn more about the causes of MG, how the immune system contributes to the disease, why people experience MG differently, and how treatments can be improved.
There is still much we do not know. That makes continued research essential.
Medical research resulting in a cure for myasthenia gravis remains the ultimate goal of Conquer MG.
Our research support is made possible through the Mary B. Prokop research bequest and generous donations from individuals and corporations.
Your support can help give researchers the resources they need to explore new questions, test new ideas, and move MG research forward.
Want to support MG research?
When making a donation to Conquer MG, designate your gift for “Research.”
See Photo Album Here
The 14th Annual Snowflake Shuffle for MG was a bright, feel-good day full of connection and community. Friends, families, and supporters came out to Berens Park to raise awareness for Myasthenia Gravis and show up for the people affected by it. The vibe was relaxed and positive, with people chatting, cheering, and just enjoying being together for a good cause.
The raffle was a big hit, and tickets went fast. Alicia did an awesome job as emcee and kept things moving with great energy. We had amazing prizes from our generous donors, and all of the winners were happy. From start to finish, it all felt easy, fun, and meaningful.
One of the most memorable parts of the day was honoring two amazing advocates with the Tracy Shackelford MG Service Award. Bob Rosecrans has made a huge impact in the Myasthenia Gravis community through his leadership and care. Everyone was proud to celebrate his work and the difference he has made.
The event also created space for people who were newly diagnosed or just learning about Myasthenia Gravis to meet others and feel supported. The MG Experience stations gave people a hands-on way to understand what living with MG can feel like. With vision-blurring glasses, ankle and wrist weights, and a few quirky challenges, participants got a real sense of the physical struggles that come with the condition. It was eye-opening in the best way. Kelly Aiken ran the new Human Slot Machine, as another engaging way to raise money for a cause!
The whole day wrapped up with new friendships, lots of laughs, and a strong sense of community. Whether people were walking the course, trying out the MG stations, or just soaking in the sunshine, it felt like everyone left with more understanding and a deeper connection.
Myasthenia Gravis can be a hard journey, but this event reminded everyone that no one has to go through it alone.
