Muscular dystrophy is the most common hereditary disease of muscle and nerves.
It affects almost exclusively boys of all races and ethnic groups. Its incidence is 1 in 3,600 boys, and at present, it is uniformly fatal, usually in late childhood or early adolescence. Cancer is the most common non-accidental cause of death in children. His current research, funded by the NIH, includes a study of the effects of orthotopic liver transplantation, and combined bone marrow and organ transplantation. Children's Hospital performs more transplants on children than any other facility in the world.