The UNM Health System is home to the Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD) National Registry. OPMD is a hereditary muscle disease that occurs in people from all over the world and from all backgrounds, although in the U.S. it’s most common in New Mexico with people of Hispanic ancestry.

It typically begins in adulthood, often when a person is over 40 years old – but younger individuals sometimes show signs. OPMD is autosomal dominant, meaning the disease can be passed down from parents to children. Children of an affected parent have a 50/50 chance of inheriting the disease.

Background on OPMD

The majority of families with OPMD in New Mexico originated in the Rio Grande basin in Northern New Mexico. OPMD is believed to be the most common muscular dystrophy in the state.

The purpose of the National OPMD Registry is to:

• Understand more about how OPMD affects people’s lives.
• Find out who is willing to be contacted for future studies on OPMD.
• Establish communication between researchers and OPMD patients and families.

When you take part in the registry, OPMD registry staff will periodically send information to you regarding new clinical studies and research developments in OPMD.

The National OPMD Registry, which is based in Albuquerque, collects and stores medical information, family history and other related information from individuals for medical research. This information (without identifying participants' personal information to protect privacy) might be shared with other researchers.

We acknowledge the University of Rochester's National Registry of Myotonic Dystrophy & FSHD Patients and Family Members for serving as a model for the National OPMD Registry.

Join the OPMD Registry

You are eligible to enroll in the OPMD registry if you:

• Have OPMD or may develop it in the future.
• Are related by blood to someone who has OPMD. 
• Are at least 18 years old.

The registry staff will review the information you provide to determine whether you qualify for enrollment.

To submit an application for the Registry click on the link https://ctsctrials.health.unm.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=CJWHFJEE7T and read through the online consent. If you agree, please hit submit and you will be taken to a brief survey. If you have questions prior to completing the online application, send an email to hsc-opmd@salud.unm.edu

More About OPMD Research

OPMD studies are ongoing at UNM. Visit clinicaltrials.gov to search for all active research studies on OPMD.