MDC Co-Hosts First Muscle Conference On Translational Research, UK

Main Category: Muscular Dystrophy / ALS
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 19 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Scientists, patients and clinicians from around the world recently attended the first Muscular Dystrophy Campaign conference on translational research.

A two-day conference organised by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, in partnership with the new MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, took place on 1 and 2 February 2008 at the Institute of Child Health in London. This inaugural scientific meeting celebrated the first MRC-funded centre for translational research in neuromuscular diseases. The program included international experts in the field of muscle disease, with some 325 clinicians, scientists, representatives from government organisations and patients' groups attending.

Professor Dominick Wells, Imperial College, said: "This congress represents probably the densest concentration of UK specialists I have ever come across."

As well as informing delegates of the latest advances in finding treatments or cures form muscular dystrophy, the conference also updated them on the research projects currently being funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. More than 20 British scientists displayed information on their successes as scientific poster presentations.

Working together to fight muscle disease

The new MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases is a joint venture between University College London and the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It has been set up to address the various barriers that hinder a speedy "bench-to-bedside" transfer of promising technology. Activities include the establishment of clinical trial centres, tissue and cell banks, as well as assessing the most suitable animal models to test newly developed treatment approaches.

The activities of the centre are monitored by a Scientific Advisory Committee, which comprises researchers from Europe and the US. The delegates were welcomed by Professor Mike Hanna, Director of MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, and Professor Malcolm Grant, President of UCL.

Chief Executive of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, Phil Butcher, expressed the charity's support and expectations for this new initiative. Dr Adrian Pollitt, Head of the National Specialised Commissioning Group, shared his ideas and theories on how new advances in translational research can be efficiently implemented into the healthcare services provided by the NHS.

In the evening, conference participants were given the opportunity to network during a gala dinner at the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn in Holborn.

International input

The following day the conference continued with fascinating presentations from Dr John Porter, who is the Program Director for Neuromuscular Disease at the National Institute of Health, US, and Dr Serge Braun, Scientific Director of the Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM) in France. Both talked at length about the various initiatives and plans to support translational research in neuromuscular diseases in their own countries, while emphasising the requirement for an international collaboration to achieve their ambitious commitments.

In the afternoon, Condition Specific Groups and other networks expressed their thoughts on how to accelerate the transfer of scientific results into the clinics so that patients may enjoy an immediate benefit.

The conference ended with the award of two prizes for the best scientific poster presentations. Both of these prizes were donated by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in the form of travel grants. The groups headed by Dr Janet Smith, from the University of Birmingham, and Dr Lyndsey Craven, working with Professor Doug Turnbull at the University of Newcastle, were each given £750 to present their research at an international congress of their choice.

Baroness Thomas of Winchester, who has Limb girdle muscular disease, said: "I am very impressed with the research advances presented at this conference and how well the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is supporting the scientists in this country."

Muscular Dystrophy Campaign