-Calls for research proposals and thematic actions :
AFM issues Calls for Proposals on specific topics ; scientists submit an application which is first assessed by the Scientific Council, then selected by the Board of Directors from all the applications that were given a favourable verdict by the Scientific Council. Exceptionnally, it is possible to approach our association at other times if the research topic stems from novel and urgent scientific advances.
In the framework of its four Calls for Proposals in 2007, AFM allocated 400 grants totaling 11,7 million euros (programs, equipments, study grants).

-Creation of its own structures :
At a time when no public or private partners wanted to get involved in certain areas of research, AFM pioneered its own structures. For example, Genethon (human genome maps, vectorology), the Institut de Myologie (basic muscle research and muscular disorder management) and I-Stem (Institute for Stem cell therapy).

 

-Industrial partnerships :
During the clinical stage of research, the involvement of biotech companies and of the pharmaceutical industry is essential. In order to develop drugs faster, AFM encourages collaborations with industrialists, acquisition of capital, repayable advances or investments in a specific research program which translate into benefits for patients.

 

-Public partnerships :
Since it has always encouraged public action, AFM initiates and promotes programs with institutional partners, for both basic and applied research. Therefore, it encourages public authorities’ actions toward the recognition of neuromuscular diseases and rare disorders in general, by encouraging a formal framework for future agreements between partners, by participating in research programs or by demanding the implementation of a global management policy (Calls for Proposals, AFM/Inserm, neuromuscular disease networks, multidisciplinary consultations, etc.).

 

-Sites policy :
AFM can enhance synergies between different scientific players by investing in bringing these players together on the same site and by participating in the development of poles of excellence. Hence its participation in the creation of Genopole‚ the national research pole dedicated to the genome and its applications situated in Evry, near Paris, and which include major public research institutes, a university and biotech companies.

 

-Enhancing research
AFM participates in the funding of a large number of research projects on rare diseases. Desirous to respect the patients’ interests, and with the aim of preventing therapeutic development from coming to a standstill or from being stopped by a project associate, it seeks to participate in the development of ongoing research, either as co-owner of a patent protecting a discovery, or by taking an active part in its development