As it remains essential to deepen understanding of the mechanisms at the origin of disease in order to develop adapted therapies and identify new therapeutic paths, the AFM is continuing its support for work in fundamental research.
For the AFM, understanding the origin and mechanisms of some 200 neuromuscular diseases is crucial in bringing targeted therapeutic responses to each of them.The projects supported by the Association aim at a better knowledge of the functioning of the muscle – whether diseased, healthy, sports-trained or aging – which is an indispensable preliminary to the use of any “therapeutic tool.” With this in view, furthering knowledge of the normal and pathological muscle, understanding the biological mechanisms of transfer or gene repair and cell transplants is vital to the improvement of existing treatments and the development of innovative therapeutics.
Each year, the AFM’s support for this fundamental research is manifested in the financing of research teams through its
“Basic myology and development of therapeutics” Call for Proposals. To support the establishment of Myology as a medical and scientific discipline, AFM created the Institut de Myologie in 1997. A recognised center of international expertise on muscle, diseases, aging and accidents of the muscle situated at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris, it is promoting innovative collaborations between researchers, medical doctors and patients.
Today the Institute of Myology is :
- a centre of reference for neuromuscular diseases
-
a permanent platform for clinical and fundamental research
-
an international centre for the training and dissemination of myology
-
a key clinical centre for therapeutic trials.
Within the Institute of Myology, the year 2005 was marked by the creation of a new research unit, "myology group", to work in collaboration with Inserm, the Ministry of Research and Paris VI University.
The unit will be led by David Sassoon, an American specialist in fundamental myology and stem cells of myogenic potential. The unit complements the on-site teams and will reinforce the dynamics between fundamental and clinical research.
As well as this, the AFM gives substantial support to a number of teams that make up Myores, the European research network with which the AFM is now in official partnership. Myores is dedicated to the study of normal and pathological muscle development through multi-organism approaches.
Focus : The Institute of Myology, a centre of expertise on the muscle
Objective :
To encourage the continued existence and recognition of myology by bringing together fundamental and clinical research, patient care and teaching on the same site.
In 2005 the Institute of Myology became the Association of the Institute of Myology. Its mission is to facilitate the coordination of site activitiesand to prepare for the mid-term aim of the creation of a Foundation dedicated to Myology.
Means :
Seven centres of activity : neuromuscular consultation, neuromuscular physiology and neuromuscular evaluation laboratory, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) laboratory, Inserm Unit 582 “Physiopathology and therapy of the striated muscle”, histopathology laboratory and Tissue Bank for Research (TBR), UMRS 787 – Myology Group (Inserm-Pierre & Marie Curie University).
Key figures in 2006 :
16 000 neuromuscular disease patient records
3 440 neuromuscular consultations
1 543 day hospitalisations
351 new muscle biopsies studied
300 scientific publications
60 young doctors and biologists in myology training
23 protocols in progress.
AFM financing : 6.194 million euros
Results :
Today the Institute of Myology is :
- a centre of reference for neuromuscular diseases
- an effective platform for clinical and fundamental research
- an international centre for the training and dissemination of myology
- a first-rate clinical centre for therapeutic trials.
Partners :
Paris Hospital Authority (AP-HP), Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Inserm, UPMC.
| 
Print.
Send.