Professor Saverio Tedesco is elected Fellow of RCPCH plus MAGICally wins additional funding!
7 June 2024
This week, Saverio Tedesco, Professor of Neuromuscular Biology & Regenerative Medicine, was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, and a consortium he leads, exploring new genetic therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases, has significantly expanded.
It's true to say that Saverio has had a good month, so far!Ìý First, he was awarded a Fellowship of the prestigiousÌýRoyal College of Paediatrics & Child Health. The RCPCH isÌýthe membership body for UK paediatricians, which was founded in 1996 and now has about 22,000 members, and plays a major role in postgraduate medical education, professional standards, research and policy. Fellowship is the pinnacle of RCPCH membership - it recognises practitioners who have completed their specialist training and celebrates their contribution to paediatrics and child health. In due course, Saverio will attend the RCPCHÌýadmission ceremony - a special occasion to recognise Saverio's exceptional hard work, and dedication to paediatrics and child health.
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The MAGIC consortium is jointly funded byÌýHorizon Europe, the UKRIÌýand the Swiss SERI agency. The 17 partners from 10 countries have been awarded a total of €10M to develop new models and genetic therapies for rare muscular dystrophies.ÌýMuscular dystrophies are characterised by muscle weakness and wasting, causing impaired mobility and often decreased life expectancy. They pose significantÌýchallenges for patients, carers, clinicians and researchers. Despite progress in genetic therapies for other neuromuscular disorders, there is currently limited evidence ofÌýclinical efficacy for gene therapy or genome editing in muscular dystrophies.
Saverio is optimistic about the impact of MAGIC: "This project represents a significant step forward in the search for effective treatments for muscular dystrophies. Through cutting-edge bioengineering, innovative genetic therapies and advanced preclinical translation, we aim to make a difference in the lives of people affected by these devastating diseases."ÌýÌý
We congratulate Saverio, and wish him and the MAGIC consortium every success – and look forward to updates on his and their progress in the coming months and years.
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