Exploring muscular dystrophy and the research challenges ahead
Join Francesco Saverio Tedesco, Senior Group Leader at the Crick, as he explains the genetic causes and physical effects of muscular dystrophy, and the work his lab is doing at the crossroads between stem cell biology, tissue engineering and disease modelling to better understand these conditions.
Muscles are the main tissue in our bodies, and they are continuously at work. Even the smallest of tasks, such as smiling, takes millions of muscle fibres working together.
Imagine that these muscle fibres are no longer able to work in harmony and simple tasks become difficult. This is the reality faced by people who are affected by muscular dystrophy.
Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic degenerative disorders of muscles. These conditions are progressive, meaning they get worse over time, and result in weakness and wasting of the muscle. Because of this, they can affect the heart and breathing. They are currently incurable.
The most common muscular dystrophy is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is linked to a mutation in the dystrophin gene found on the X chromosome, and it affects about 1 in 5,000 male births.
As understanding and research into muscular dystrophy evolves, new treatments for this condition are emerging. Francesco highlights the challenges faced by researchers developing treatments for muscle disorders, and the opportunities provided by novel technologies.
Francesco Saverio Tedesco is a clinician scientist with a long-standing interest in muscle regeneration and paediatric neuromuscular diseases.
He is a Senior Group Leader at the Crick and also works across UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
His lab at the Crick harnesses the regenerative potential of muscle stem cells to create innovative models to study and develop therapies for muscular dystrophies.
Crick Crash Courses started life as talks for our staff, to help everyone working here, scientists and non-scientists, better understand the Crick's discovery research into how life works.
We're now opening our doors to our crash course talks, giving everyone, everywhere, the opportunity to hear directly from our scientists as they investigate some of the most complex challenges in human health.
