The first stage of the project will involve human trials where the DNA 'patches' are inserted into single muscles to test for both safety and efficiency. While this is in progress Dr Wood and Professor Davies will investigate how the 'patches' can be delivered throughout the whole body. One possible method would involve attaching peptides to the DNA which could deliver the 'patch' preferentially to muscle cells.

Announcing the funding, John Reid said: 'I would like to particularly congratulate the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign for bringing together patients, parents, and scientists to address real needs and develop a novel treatment strategy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Their successful application for 1.6 million pays tribute to this outstanding collaborative effort, and should result in the first ever UK gene therapy trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.'

For more information on Duchenne muscular dystrophy go to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign website.