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Modelling undiagnosed muscular dystrophies using patients's stem cells

Project description

The search for genetic clues in muscular dystrophy

Neuromuscular diseases are characterised by progressive muscle degeneration that in severe cases may lead to cardiac and respiratory impairment and death. The genetic aetiology is constantly evolving, with thousands of patients suffering from muscular dystrophy (MD) lacking a molecular diagnosis. To assist the identification of mutations in these patients, the EU-funded MUMDUPSC project proposes to generate pluripotent stem cells from patients. Researchers aim to identify the genes and pathways specifically contributing to MD. Project results will improve existing knowledge about these diseases and help patients receive prompt diagnosis and care.

Objective

Neuromuscular Diseases (NMDs), affecting both children and adults with a prevalence of 1 in a 1000 people, form a large and heterogeneous group of genetic diseases causing progressive degeneration of skeletal muscles. Most NMDs result in chronic long-term disability imposing a significant burden on patients, families and public health care. In many cases, patients die prematurely from respiratory, and in some cases cardiac, muscle impairment. There are more than 200 NMDs, including over 30 types of Muscular Dystrophy (MD) which results from the mutation of genes controlling muscle functions and structures. The classification of MDs is not fixed but evolves with the constant discovery of new genes/mutations responsible for these diseases. Despite more than 40 genes involved in MDs have already been identified many genes are still to be discovered. In Europe, thousand patients with MD are currently without molecular diagnosis. Delayed or inaccurate diagnoses postpone the adequate care and may have irreversible consequences for the patients. MUMDUPSC aims combining descriptive clinical diagnosis, genomics and disease modelling from patients’ induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC) to identify both molecular mechanisms and genetic mutations underlying undiagnosed muscular dystrophies (UMDs). Specifically, I propose to generate hiPSC from selected UMD patients and investigate their transcription profile during skeletal muscle differentiation compared to control cells (unaffected or affected with known MDs). By identifying, for the first time, DEGs specifically modulated in UMDs, MUMDUPSC will reveal the genes and pathways specifically contributing to the diseases. It will represent a proof of concept for the classification of unlabeled muscle pathologies and, in the long term, will provide innovative leads for the diagnosis and the treatment of these debilitating diseases.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 196 707,84
Address
BOULEVARD CHARLES LIVON 58 LE PHARO
13284 Marseille
France

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Region
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Bouches-du-Rhône
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 196 707,84
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