Project CNNM2: Our Mission - Jain Foundation

JAIN FOUNDATION

Project CNNM2

JAIN FOUNDATION

Project CNNM2

In 2005, Ajit Jain of Berkshire Hathaway established the Jain Foundation with a singular mission: building a cure for dysferlinopathy. Under the scientific and strategic leadership of Dr. Plavi Jain Mittal, the Foundation helped turn dysferlinopathy from a little-known muscular dystrophy into a defined, globally recognized research field—shaping the overall roadmap, funding key projects, and keeping the focus on concrete, translational progress.

In 2025, a young member of the Jain family was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition caused by a mutation in CNNM2. We responded by launching Project CNNM2 on September 15th, 2025, approaching this new disorder with greater urgency and with the full weight of nearly two decades of Jain Foundation experience. The CNNM2 team is intentionally small and agile: Plavi leads the scientific and strategic direction, working closely with Audrey Ostenson, who helps drive the day-to-day efforts in research coordination, data-driven strategy, and network-building. The wider Jain Foundation community provides guidance, key introductions, and institutional backing as we work to build the CNNM2 field.

Our Mission

Project CNNM2 began with the diagnosis of a child in our family. Born in 2022, he was a happy, thriving baby until seizures and developmental delays began around his first birthday. After a long search for answers, we learned he has a rare change in his CNNM2 gene.

Our goal is simple and urgent: to build a future with better options for him and for every child living with CNNM2-related conditions.

Scientific Advisory Board

All proposal evaluations and funding decisions are conducted exclusively by our in-house scientific team. This dedicated focus on a single disease area has enabled the Jain Foundation to serve as a center of excellence, maintaining a comprehensive, up-to-date view of the CNNM2 research landscape and promoting collaboration among previously unconnected investigators.

Supported by the Jain Foundation Dysferlin Team

Project CNNM2 is intentionally small and focused, but we are not working in isolation. The broader Jain Foundation team continues to advise us, open doors to collaborators, and cheer us on as we build the CNNM2 field.