University College London
Institute of Child Health
The Neuromuscular Centre at the Institute of Child Health has a longstanding tradition of excellence in the field of diagnosis, management and care of childhood neuromuscular conditions. The strength of the unit is the large critical mass of patients, the diagnostic pathology expertise together with an active program of research and key national and international collaborations.
The Neuromuscular Centre follows the largest cohort of children affected by neuromuscular conditions in UK and have an active role in networking the remaining UK Units; Francesco Muntoni is the PI in a phase I/II trial using antisense oligonucleotides in DMD in UK. The Centre has an active program of research on muscular dystrophy, which led to the identification of 5 novel genes in the last few years.
University College London Website
UCL Institue of Child Health website
Francesco Muntoni - Professor of Paediatric Neurology, Director
Francesco Muntoni (Professor in Pediatric Neurology, FRCPCH, FMedSci): Director of the Unit with oversight of both clinical and research activities. Key National and International contacts; 230 publications.
Fields of research: genetic basis of muscular dystrophies; antisense oligonucleotides (PI on a Department of Health funded phase 1 trial in DMD); trials he has also taken a significant role in the scientific activities of the European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC), with participation to 38 international workshops over the last 13 years, of which he organised 9.
He is chairman of the ENMC Congenital muscular dystrophy Consortium. Since 2000 he has been invited for lectures or Keynote addresses to 39 International Conferences, including all major International events. He has been one of the coordinating units for the EU FP5 (GENRE, as part of the Myocluster project).
Carol Harty, Business Manager, UCLB
Dr Carol Harty advises on intellectual property matters and commercial activities at the Institute of Child Health.
Carol joined UCL Business PLC (then UCL Biomedica PLC) in 2005 from Library House Ltd. where she identified and profiled technology-based companies, assessing the technical and commercial aspects of their products. Her commercial career and academic background means she has considerable knowledge and expertise in technology development.
Carol's has a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry gained at Cambridge University. Prior to this, she completed a BSc programme at the University of Victoria (Canada) which included two industrial placements and two academic research placements.
