Accelerating treatments for neuromuscular diseases

TREAT-NMD: accelerating treatments for neuromuscular diseases. TREAT-NMD is a European Union funded Network of Excellence launched on 1 January 2007 with the express aim of accelerating the process of bringing treatments to patients with neuromuscular diseases. The co-ordination centre is based in the Institute of Human Genetics in Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. The network brings together 21 partner organisations, including doctors, researchers, charities and private companies, based throughout 11 European countries. Neuromuscular disorders affect around 300,000 people in Europe. TREAT-NMD will encourage experts in this field to work together to share good practice and to improve global standards of care. Scientists will work closely with doctors to test and apply new research into these inherited disorders, in order to develop new ways of looking after patients with conditions like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Close links with drug companies will also be further developed to advance potential treatments and cures. Patients and patient charities will be involved at all levels of the project, which will also include a programme of training and education.