Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has entered a research and option agreement with Nationwide Children's Hospital on their microdystrophin gene therapy program. Dr. Jerry Mendell, M.D. and Dr. Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., are the lead principal investigators of the program. The initial trial, expected to go into Phase 1/2a trial in late 2017, will be conducted at Nationwide Children's. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) has committed 2.2 million dollars to the trial, with support from additional Duchenne foundations and families. Sarepta has committed to the trial through a separate research agreement with Nationwide Children's, and has an exclusive option to license the program. PPMD's grant provided incentive for Sarepta to help expand and accelerate this opportunity.