BIA names Muscular Dystrophy UK as its charity partner of the year for 2026

London, UK, 3 December 2025 – The BioIndustry Association (BIA) today announces Muscular Dystrophy UK as its charity partner of the year for 2026. Through this partnership, the BIA will leverage the network it has fostered in the UK life sciences and biotech sector to support those affected by muscle-wasting conditions.

More than 110,000 people in the UK live with a muscle-wasting condition which gradually damages the way their muscles work. Over time, it stops them from living everyday life. In some cases, lives will be cut short.

The BIA will support Muscular Dystrophy UK through strategic opportunities and fundraising activities over the next 12 months. The partnership will be formally launched at the BIA Gala Dinner, taking place on Thursday, 29 January 2026, at the Roundhouse in Camden, London.

There are over 60 different muscle-wasting conditions and the partnership aims to raise the profile of this group of rare conditions. It will spotlight the importance of having access to new treatments and receiving the right support, as well as highlighting the need to improve the speed, accuracy and equity of diagnosis.

Jane Wall, Managing Director of the BIA, said:

We’re delighted to welcome Muscular Dystrophy UK as our charity partner for 2026. This partnership is about more than fundraising - it’s about shining a spotlight on the urgent need for innovation and collaboration to improve the lives of those affected by muscle wasting conditions. Health charities are a key component of the UK’s life science innovation ecosystem, with research and expertise driven by patient insight.

Through the strength of our sector and the connections we’ve built across industry, healthcare and government, we aim to help raise awareness, accelerate R&D by encouraging collaborative opportunities with our members, and advocate for better access to innovative clinical trials and therapies. Together with Muscular Dystrophy UK, we want to ensure that progress in science translates into tangible impact for patients and families.

Andy Fletcher, CEO of Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:

Being named the BioIndustry Association’s Charity Partner for 2026 is a real honour. We have set ourselves some bold ambitions over the next ten years and with the BIA’s support, we can work towards realising our vision of a world without limits for people living with muscle wasting conditions – funding more research, transforming diagnosis, improving access to new treatments, expanding our support services, and campaigning for a more equal and accessible world.

This partnership will help to drive change and transform the lives of adults and children in the UK living with a muscle wasting condition.