Paris2
 
AcadeMYO Winter School ONLINE
December 14th to 16th 2026
ONLINE FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MYOLOGY (LA PITIÉ SALPÊTRIÈRE HOSPITAL) | PARIS, France

 

 

WINTER ACADEMYO is back ! 

 APPLY HERE!

AcadeMYO WINTERCHOOL 14th December- 16th December 2026 100% Online!

 

Join us for this unique opportunity to perfect your skills in myology, an increasingly exciting discipline dedicated to neuromuscular science!
All professionals manifesting some interest in the field are encouraged to apply.
Be prompt in doing so as the maximal gauge has been set to 60 participants this year.

Registration fees will include:
- Access to the AcadeMYO videolibrary of 60 + pre-recorded lectures, 2 weeks before the course and until 2 weeks after the course (mid-November 2026 to mid- January 2027)
- Intensive, dynamic live sessions (all in English) including lectures by experts, interactive case study sessions.
- Deadline for payment: 10th December 2026

 

 

 

FOUNDING EXPERTS & HONORARY FACULTY

 

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Norma B. ROMERO

Dr Norma B. Romero is a physician and internationally recognised expert in neuromuscular pathology and congenital myopathies, based at the Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.

From 2002 to 2021, she headed the Neuromuscular Morphology Unit at the Institute of Myology, where she specialised in the analysis of muscle biopsies for the diagnosis and characterisation of neuromuscular diseases in both children and adults. Her research has contributed to the identification of new forms and phenotypes of congenital myopathies, as well as to the recognition of important morphological features and diagnostic markers.

Her work has been closely integrated with national and international research networks, including the Myocapture programme, and she has contributed extensively to collaborative research in genetic neuromuscular diseases. She also played a leading role in the development of the Atlas of Muscle, an open-access resource providing a comprehensive reference for muscle pathology.

A longstanding contributor to education in myology, Dr Romero has been actively involved in the development and organisation of the Institute of Myology’s AcadeMYO Summer School since its inception, as well as the Latin-American EVELAM Summer School. Through her teaching and mentorship, she has contributed to the transmission of expertise in neuromuscular pathology to successive generations of clinicians and specialists.

 

 

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J. Andoni URTIZBEREA

Dr J. Andoni Urtizberea is a French physician specialising in neuromuscular diseases, with a career spanning clinical medicine, medical education, research networks and international development in myology.

Trained in Paris, he is a specialist in both paediatrics and Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PM&R) and also holds a degree from Sciences Po Paris. Early in his career, he served as Medical Director of AFM-Téléthon and subsequently as General Delegate of the Institute of Myology in Paris. From 1999 to 2005, he was Scientific Director of the European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC) in the Netherlands, where he played an important role in developing international collaborations and networks in the field of neuromuscular diseases.

Throughout his career, Dr Urtizberea has placed particular emphasis on education and the international dissemination of expertise in myology. Over more than three decades, he has led and contributed to educational programmes and summer schools across Europe, Latin America, Russia and the Middle East. He is currently a faculty member of the Institute of Myology in Paris and is closely involved in the development of AcadeMYO and its Summer School, while also regularly serving as a visiting professor internationally.

His commitment extends beyond clinical medicine and academic education. Working at the intersection of clinical practice, patient advocacy, academia and industry, he has dedicated much of his career to raising awareness of neuromuscular diseases and improving access to specialised knowledge, particularly in countries where expertise and resources remain limited.

In 2016, together with Professor André Megarbane, he co-founded Myologie Sans Frontières (formerly Maladies Orphelines Sans Frontières), a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting awareness, education and expertise in neuromuscular diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

A passionate educator and advocate for international collaboration, Dr Urtizberea has contributed to building bridges between myology communities worldwide, with education and knowledge-sharing at the heart of his commitment.

 

 

ACADEMYO DIRECTORS

 

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Gorka FERNANDEZ-EULATE

Dr Gorka Fernández-Eulate is a neurologist specialising in neuromuscular diseases at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France. His clinical practice focuses particularly on inherited peripheral neuropathies and neurometabolic disorders, combining patient care with clinical and translational research.

He is actively involved in several international initiatives dedicated to neuromuscular diseases. He serves as Secretary of the European CMT Research Association (ECRA), is a member of the Advisory Committee of TREAT-NMD and the ClinGen CMT Gene Curation Expert Panel and contributes to the Education Committee of the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS).

Dr Fernández-Eulate holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology and conducts research at the Center of Research in Myology (UMR974), where his work focuses on modelling neuromuscular and neurometabolic disorders affecting peripheral motor neurons. His research combines cellular disease models with metabolic approaches, with the aim of better understanding disease mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Alongside his clinical and research activities, he is involved in medical education at the Sorbonne University Faculty of Health Sciences and contributes to the training of the next generation of neuromuscular specialists. He is also a co-coordinator of AcadeMYO, where he plays an active role in developing its educational programme and fostering international exchange within the myology community.

 

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Marion MASINGUE

Dr Marion Masingue is a neurologist specialising in neuromuscular diseases at the Neuromyology Department of Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Institute of Myology, Paris, France.

After completing her medical and neurology training in Paris, she specialised in myology and joined the Institute of Myology in 2017. She has since developed broad expertise in the diagnosis and management of genetic neuromuscular disorders, with a particular interest in hereditary myopathies and neuropathies, neuromuscular junction disorders and rare neuromuscular diseases.

Her clinical and research activities span a wide range of neuromuscular conditions, including congenital myopathies, congenital myasthenic syndromes, hereditary neuropathies, spinal muscular atrophy and rare metabolic and genetic disorders. She has contributed to numerous national and international multicentre studies and has authored or co-authored publications in leading journals in the field of neuromuscular medicine.

Alongside her clinical and research activities, Dr Masingue is actively involved in medical education and regularly contributes to national and international teaching programmes in neurology, neuromuscular medicine, peripheral neuropathies and electromyography. She is also a member of the board of the Société Francophone du Nerf Périphérique (SFNP), reflecting her longstanding commitment to advancing expertise in peripheral nerve disorders.

Through her clinical, research and teaching activities, Dr Masingue contributes to the development of precision diagnosis and multidisciplinary care for patients living with rare neuromuscular diseases.

 

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

 

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Jorge BEVILACQUA

Professor Jorge A. Bevilacqua is a neurologist and internationally recognised specialist in neuromuscular diseases, based at the Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile and Clínica Davila, in Santiago, Chile, where he leads the Neuromuscular Unit and contributes to the diagnosis, management and teaching of neuromuscular disorders, and is professor of the Department of Anatomy and Legal Medicine of the Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile.

Originally from Argentina, he completed his medical studies at the National University of La Plata and subsequently obtained a PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Wales in Cardiff. He pursued further training in adult neurology and neuromuscular neurophysiology in Chile, before developing a longstanding academic and professional relationship with the Institute of Myology in Paris. He attended the Institute’s Summer School of Myology in 2003 and subsequently completed the Inter-University Diploma in Myology, while undertaking training in muscle pathology at Pitié-Salpêtrière.

A strong advocate for the international development of myology education, Professor Bevilacqua was one of the co-founders of EVELAM (Escuela de Verano Euro-Latinoamericana de Miología) in 2008, together with Norma Romero, Andoni Urtizberea and Alberto Rosa. The programme was created to strengthen myology education and foster collaboration between European and Latin-American clinicians, researchers and allied health professionals. He is also a member of the board of the Latin American Society of Neuromuscular Diseases SOLANE.

Teaching and knowledge-sharing have remained central to his career. He is actively involved in international myology education through the World Muscle Society and currently serves as co-chair of its Pre-Congress Teaching Course. He is also a member of the WMS Executive Board.

Professor Bevilacqua has contributed extensively to the field of neuromuscular medicine through clinical practice, research and education, with a particular commitment to expanding access to expertise and improving the diagnosis and care of patients with neuromuscular diseases worldwide.

 

 

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Annelies HERMAN

Annelies Herman is an Executive Assistant at the Institute of Myology, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, where she supports the Directors and the clinical and research teams of the Institute of Myology. She has also contributed to the activities of the European Reference Network for rare neuromuscular diseases (ERN EURO-NMD) and the Societé Francophone du Nerf Peripheries (SFNP).

Since joining the Institute of Myology in 2019, she has been closely involved in the coordination and development of educational and scientific activities, with a particular focus on the organisation of AcadeMYO, the Institute’s international Summer School of Myology. Her role encompasses programme coordination, faculty liaison, participant and speaker management, accreditation, logistics and the overall coordination of the educational experience.

With a background spanning the performing arts, cultural institutions and international client-facing roles, Annelies brings a distinctive combination of organisational skills, communication expertise and an international perspective to her work.

Before joining the Institute of Myology, she worked at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris and in the Parisian real-estate sector. Earlier in her career, she enjoyed an international career as a professional opera singer, performing as a soloist with leading opera companies and festivals in France and abroad, including the Opéra national du Rhin, San Diego Opera, the Covent Garden and Aix-en-Provence Festivals, Christchurch Opera, and the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra.

Fluent in English and French, Annelies is passionate about bringing people together, creating high-quality educational experiences and supporting the exchange of knowledge across the international myology community.

 

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Stéphanie MIFFRE

Stéphanie Miffre is an Executive Assistant at the Institut de Myologie, where she has been supporting the Institute’s teams and activities for many years. As part of the Institute’s Coordination team, she contributes to the smooth organisation and coordination of its activities and events.

For nearly two decades, Stéphanie has been involved in the organisation of the AcadeMYO Summer School, contributing to its continuity and development over the years. Her long-standing involvement has given her a unique knowledge of the School, its faculty and its organisation, as well as a close understanding of the practical needs of its participants and speakers.

Working behind the scenes alongside the scientific and organising teams, she helps ensure that the many practical and logistical aspects of AcadeMYO come together to create a welcoming, efficient and successful learning experience for participants from France and around the world. 

Her commitment and long-standing contribution have made her a familiar and valued presence in the AcadeMYO team, supporting the School’s mission to bring together the next generation of clinicians and researchers in neuromuscular medicine.

 

 

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Harmen REYNGOUDT

Dr Harmen Reyngoudt is a basic NMR scientist and co-responsible for the NMR Laboratory at the Institute of Myology in Paris, France. His work focuses on the development and application of advanced magnetic resonance techniques to the study of muscle physiology and neuromuscular diseases.

He is particularly involved in quantitative MRI (qMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), contributing to the development and implementation of imaging protocols for muscle disease studies at both national and international levels. His work brings together fundamental NMR methodology and clinical research, with the aim of developing sensitive and reliable imaging biomarkers for the characterisation and monitoring of neuromuscular disorders.

Through his involvement in collaborative research projects and educational activities, Dr Reyngoudt contributes to the integration of advanced muscle imaging techniques into research and clinical practice in myology. As part of AcadeMYO, he leads a dedicated two-hour visit to the NMR Laboratory, giving participants a unique opportunity to discover the technology and principles behind advanced muscle imaging and to explore its applications in neuromuscular research and clinical practice.

 

 

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Andreea SEFERIAN

Dr Andreea Mihaela Seferian is a neurologist specialising in neuromuscular diseases, with a particular focus on paediatric neuromuscular disorders. Originally trained in Romania, she moved to Paris in 2009 during her neurology residency and discovered myology and clinical research at the Institute of Myology.

Since then, she has developed a career combining clinical practice and research, with a particular interest in the diagnosis, management and longitudinal care of patients with neuromuscular diseases. She has also been closely involved in research using ActiMyo®, an innovative technology developed at the Institute of Myology for the quantitative assessment of motor function and physical activity.

Through her clinical and research activities, Dr Seferian contributes to the development and evaluation of new approaches for assessing disease progression and treatment response in neuromuscular disorders. Her international background and experience working across clinical and research environments have also contributed to her involvement in collaborative projects and medical education.

As part of the AcadeMYO faculty, Dr Seferian shares her clinical and research expertise with participants, contributing to the next generation of specialists in neuromuscular medicine.

 

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Stéphane VASSILOPOULOS

Stéphane Vassilopoulos is a Research Director at Inserm (DR2) at the Center for Research in Myology (UMRS 974, Inserm–Sorbonne University). After completing a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the CEA in Grenoble, he was awarded a competitive postdoctoral fellowship from the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) to join the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). His work there led to the discovery of the role of CHC22 clathrin in glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes, published in Science in 2009. He joined Inserm as a permanent researcher in 2010 and was promoted to Research Director in 2021.

His research lies at the interface of cell biology, pathophysiology and advanced imaging, with a particular focus on understanding the nanoscale organisation of membranes and the cytoskeleton in muscle and the nervous system. He uncovered novel functions of clathrin and actin in the organisation of muscle costameres and their disruption in centronuclear myopathies and myotonic dystrophy, as well as new membrane architectures involved in cancer cell invasion.

More recently, he has developed innovative approaches combining electron microscopy and super-resolution microscopy. These approaches revealed, for the first time, how endocytosis is organised within the periodic cytoskeleton of the axon initial segment, in work published in Science in 2024, as well as a new method for visualising autophagosome formation at the nanoscale, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology in 2024. These advances were recognised in 2025 with the “Grandes avancées françaises en biologie” (“Major French Advances in Biology”) award from the French Academy of Sciences.

His expertise has gained strong international recognition, with 17 invited lectures, including at several Gordon Research Conferences and EMBO meetings, as well as invitations to teach at international scientific schools. He has coordinated or participated in numerous competitive ANR and European (Horizon Europe) research projects and has extensive experience supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

As a member of the AcadeMYO faculty, Dr Vassilopoulos brings this expertise in muscle cell biology and advanced imaging to the Summer School, contributing to the scientific programme and engaging with participants through teaching and discussion. His involvement reflects AcadeMYO’s emphasis on connecting fundamental research with clinical myology and on sharing the latest advances with the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

 

 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

 

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Guillaume BASSEZ

Dr Guillaume Bassez is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Sorbonne University and clinical-scientist at the Institut de Myologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, where he is involved in the clinical care of patients with neuromuscular disorders and leads a translational research group dedicated to myotonic dystrophy.

His research focuses on improving the understanding and management of myotonic dystrophy through the characterisation of disease phenotypes and natural history, the development and validation of outcome measures for clinical trials, and the identification of disease biomarkers. He coordinates DM-Scope, the French observational registry for myotonic dystrophies, which brings together data from specialised neuromuscular centres across France and provides an important resource for clinical research and the development of new therapeutic approaches.

He is the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials on adult neuromuscular diseases at the Institut de Myologie, particularly targeting FSHD and DM

Alongside his clinical and research activities, Dr Bassez has a strong commitment to medical education. He coordinates the French-speaking inter-University Myology diploma - DIU de Myologie, a one-year university course providing theoretical and practical training in myology for healthcare professionals, with the aim of improving the diagnosis and management of neuromuscular diseases and fostering clinical and biological research.

As a member of the AcadeMYO faculty, Dr Bassez brings together his clinical expertise, research experience and teaching commitment to share practical knowledge of neuromuscular medicine and engage participants in the clinical and translational challenges of myology.

 

 

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Anthony BEHIN

Anthony BEHIN

Biography coming soon

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Olivier BENVENISTE

Olivier BENVENISTE

Pr Olivier Benveniste is Professor of Internal Medicine at Sorbonne University and a physician at Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, where he heads the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology and leads the UMRS974 research team dedicated to inflammatory myopathies and targeted innovative therapies. He is also coordinator of the national reference network for inflammatory myopathies.

His clinical and research work focuses on autoimmune and inflammatory muscle diseases, including dermatomyositis, immune-mediated necrotising myopathies, antisynthetase syndrome and inclusion body myositis. His research aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying these heterogeneous diseases and to improve their classification, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. His work has contributed to the development of clinically and biologically based approaches to classifying myositis, with the goal of enabling more precise and personalised therapeutic strategies.

A major strength of his work is its translational approach, connecting clinical observation and patient cohorts with biological research. Through the development of detailed clinical databases and biobanks, his team investigates autoantibodies, immune mechanisms, biomarkers and the interaction between the immune system and muscle. This integrated approach allows discoveries made at the laboratory level to be translated into improved clinical assessment and therapeutic strategies.

Pr Benveniste has also played a leading role in the development and evaluation of new treatments for inflammatory myopathies. He is principal investigator of numerous national and international clinical trials, including studies investigating innovative approaches for inclusion body myositis and other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. His clinical research has included the evaluation of rapamycin, cell-based therapies and targeted immunomodulatory treatments.

As a member of the AcadeMYO Scientific Committee, Pr Benveniste brings participants his extensive expertise at the interface of clinical medicine, immunology and muscle research, offering insight into the evolving understanding of inflammatory myopathies and the challenges of translating scientific discoveries into new therapeutic approaches.

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Gisèle BONNE

Gisèle BONNE

Dr Gisèle Bonne is an INSERM Research Director and team leader at the Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne University–Inserm, at the Institut de Myologie in Paris. Her research focuses on the genetics and pathophysiology of rare neuromuscular diseases, with particular expertise in muscular dystrophies associated with defects of the nuclear envelope and striated muscle laminopathies.

Following a PhD in developmental physiology and postdoctoral training in genetics, Dr Bonne has made major contributions to the understanding of inherited muscle diseases. Her work has been instrumental in identifying disease-causing genetic mutations and in characterising the molecular mechanisms underlying laminopathies, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. Her research combines human genetics with cellular and animal models to investigate disease mechanisms, validate genetic variants and explore potential therapeutic approaches.

Dr Bonne has played an important role in the development of the myology community in France and internationally. She is a former Chair of the French Society of Myology and served for many years on the Executive Board of the World Muscle Society, including as Treasurer. She has also contributed to numerous scientific networks and collaborative initiatives in neuromuscular research.

A long-standing member of the AcadeMYO faculty and Scientific Committee, Dr Bonne has contributed to the School for many years through both teaching and scientific guidance. Her expertise in muscle genetics, laminopathies and translational research brings an important bridge between fundamental mechanisms, clinical genetics and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

 

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Teresinha EVANGELISTA

Teresinha EVANGELISTA

Dr Teresinha Evangelista is an adult neurologist specialising in neuromuscular diseases at the Service de Neuro-Myologie of Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière and leads the Neuromuscular pathology Functional Unit at the Neuropathology department and the Histopathology Laboratory at the Institut de Myologie. She combines extensive clinical experience with expertise in neuromuscular pathology and the morphological diagnosis of muscle diseases.

After beginning her career in Portugal, Dr Evangelista pursued specialised training in neuromuscular pathology in Paris and later worked at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre in Newcastle. Her clinical and research activities focus on the diagnosis and characterisation of rare neuromuscular diseases, combining clinical assessment with muscle biopsy analysis and advanced histopathological techniques.

As Head of the Morphological Unit, she oversees the analysis of muscle biopsies for the diagnosis and characterisation of neuromuscular diseases. The laboratory combines histo-enzymology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and Western blot analysis, and also contributes to research programmes aimed at better understanding newly recognised or incompletely characterised muscle diseases.

Dr Evangelista also plays an important role in European and international collaboration in the field of rare neuromuscular diseases. She has served since 2018 as Coordinator of the European Reference Network for Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), contributing to collaboration between specialist centres and to European initiatives in clinical care, research, education and the development of expertise in rare neuromuscular disorders. She is also an active member of the World Muscle Society (WMS) Executive Board and currently chairs its Europe Regional Subcommittee, contributing to the development of international collaboration and education in neuromuscular medicine.

Alongside her clinical and research activities, Dr Evangelista has a strong commitment to education and knowledge sharing. As a long-standing member of the AcadeMYO faculty and Scientific Committee, she contributes her expertise in neuromuscular pathology and muscle histology, including through the practical Muscle Histology session at the AcadeMYO Summer School, where participants can discover how the microscopic examination of muscle tissue contributes to diagnosis and to the understanding of neuromuscular disease.

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Ana FERREIRO

Pr Ana FERREIRO

PU-PH
Cheffe du Service de Neuromyologie

Groupe Hospitalo-Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP Sorbonne Université

Responsable du laboratoire « Congenital core myopathies », Centre de Recherche en Myologie

Paris, France

Prof. Ana Ferreiro is a neuromuscular neurologist and Head of the Neuromyology Department at Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière (APHP), Institut de Myologie, in Paris. She is also the director of the ‘Translational research in congenital myopathies’ laboratory at the Myology Research Center and Professor of Neurology at Sorbonne University. Combining clinical practice with fundamental and translational research, she has devoted almost 30 years to the study and management of rare muscle diseases.

 

Her research focuses particularly on congenital and early-onset myopathies and the mechanisms underlying inherited muscle diseases. Together with her team, she has defined and characterized (phenotype, genetics, pathophysiology) several entities in this field, contributing to a new nosological classification.   Major examples are SELENON/SEPN1-related myopathy, including its links with oxidative and endoplasmic-reticulum stress, as well as recessive RYR1-related myopathies, congenital titin-related and desmin-related myopathies, or congenital muscle disorders associated with ASC-1. Her work combines clinical and genetic characterisation of patients with cellular and molecular approaches, with the aim of translating advances in disease mechanisms into improved diagnosis (including biomarker identification) and therapeutic strategies.

 

Prof. Ferreiro has also played a prominent role in the development of international collaboration in neuromuscular research. She served as Research Director of the European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC), where she contributed to the development of collaborative research workshops and initiatives supporting innovation and mentoring of the next generation of leaders in the field. She is also actively involved in clinical and translational research and in the development of new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of rare neuromuscular diseases.

 

As Head of the Neuro-Myology Department at Pitié-Salpêtrière, Prof. Ferreiro contributes to the multidisciplinary diagnosis and management of a broad spectrum of neuromuscular diseases, while maintaining a strong connection with clinical research and therapeutic development. The department brings together specialised clinical expertise, reference-centre activities and access to clinical trials through the Institut de Myologie and I-Motion.

 

As a member of the AcadeMYO faculty, Prof. Ferreiro brings participants the perspective of a leading clinician-scientist working at the interface between patient care, genetics, disease mechanisms and therapeutic research. Her contribution reflects the central mission of AcadeMYO: connecting advances in fundamental myology with their application to the diagnosis, understanding and treatment of neuromuscular diseases.

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Jean-Yves HOGREL

Dr Jean-Yves HOGREL

Director of the Neuromuscular Physiology and Evaluation Laboratory

Dr Jean-Yves Hogrel is a biomedical engineer, researcher and Director of the Neuromuscular Physiology and Evaluation Laboratory at the Institut de Myologie in Paris. He holds a BSc, MSc (1990) and PhD (1994) in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Technology of Compiègne. He joined the Institut de Myologie in 1995 and co-founded the Neuromuscular Physiology and Evaluation Laboratory, which he has led since 1998.

His research focuses on the quantitative assessment of neuromuscular function, with particular expertise in the development and validation of outcome measures for neuromuscular diseases and their application in therapeutic trials. His work brings together biomedical engineering, muscle physiology and clinical evaluation to develop innovative approaches for objectively measuring muscle strength, motor function and disease progression.

Dr Hogrel has co-authored more than 200 scientific publications and is co-inventor of several innovative devices for the assessment of neuromuscular function. He has contributed to more than 100 clinical trials, providing expertise in the development, selection and implementation of sensitive and reliable outcome measures for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.

Under his leadership, the Neuromuscular Physiology and Evaluation Laboratory has become internationally recognised for its expertise in quantitative outcome measures and innovative technologies dedicated to neuromuscular function assessment.

As part of AcadeMYO, Dr Hogrel leads a two-hour visit to the Neuromuscular Physiology and Evaluation Laboratory, giving participants the opportunity to discover first-hand the technologies and methodologies used to assess neuromuscular function. Through practical demonstrations and discussion, the session illustrates how quantitative physiological measurements are translated into meaningful outcome measures for clinical research and therapeutic trials.

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Pascal LAFORET

Pascal LAFORET 

Prof. Pascal Laforêt is a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular diseases and Coordinator of the Nord-Est–Île-de-France Neuromuscular Reference Centre. He is based within the neuromuscular network of the Institut de Myologie and is also affiliated with the Neurology Department at Raymond Poincaré University Hospital and INSERM U1179.

His clinical and research expertise covers a broad range of rare neuromuscular disorders, with particular interest in metabolic myopathies, muscle disorders associated with exercise intolerance and rhabdomyolysis, and Pompe disease. He has made important contributions to the diagnosis, natural history and management of these disorders, combining clinical expertise with translational and collaborative research. His work has also addressed therapeutic strategies and outcome assessment in neuromuscular diseases.

Prof. Laforêt has played a leading role in the development of clinical research and patient registries in rare neuromuscular diseases. He created the French Pompe Disease Registry and continues to serve as principal investigator for the French and international Pompe registries. He is also involved in clinical trials, including studies of treatments for Pompe disease, and contributes to research programmes addressing mitochondrial and other metabolic muscle disorders.

Alongside his clinical and research activities, Prof. Laforêt is actively involved in the organisation and development of specialised neuromuscular care at national level. His work brings together clinical expertise, research networks and long-term patient follow-up, with the aim of improving diagnosis and access to innovative treatments for people living with rare neuromuscular diseases.

As a member of the AcadeMYO faculty, Prof. Laforêt shares his expertise in metabolic myopathies and Pompe disease, bringing participants the perspective of a clinician deeply involved in both the diagnosis and long-term management of rare neuromuscular disorders and in the development of new therapeutic approaches. His contribution helps illustrate the close link between specialist clinical care, patient registries and clinical research.

Tanya STOJKOVIC Speaker Content
Tanya STOJKOVIC

Tanya STOJKOVIC

Dr Tanya Stojkovic is a neurologist specialising in neuromuscular diseases and coordinates the Nord/Est/Île-de-France Neuromuscular Diseases Reference Centre at Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, within the Institut de Myologie. 

She is also a Healthcare Provider within ERN EURO-NMD. She previously served as President of the Société Francophone du Nerf Périphérique (SFNP) and remains on its Board. She is involved in several EURO-NMD working groups and on the EAN Neuromuscular Panel. She is also affiliated with the French Society of Myology.

She has more than three decades of experience in the diagnosis and management of rare and complex disorders affecting the muscle, nerve and neuromuscular junction. Her clinical and research expertise spans a broad range of neuromuscular disorders, with particular interests in hereditary neuropathies, especially Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, myopathies with contractures, including collagen VI-related myopathies, dystrophinopathies and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, as well as congenital myasthenic syndromes. As an electromyography and neurophysiology specialist, she has contributed to improving diagnostic strategies for these rare diseases and to the development of more precise approaches to patient care.

Dr Stojkovic is actively involved in clinical research and therapeutic trials and has contributed to the development of genomic approaches for patients with undiagnosed myopathies. Her work reflects a strong commitment to connecting clinical expertise, research and innovation to improve diagnosis and treatment for people living with neuromuscular diseases.

Alongside her clinical and research activities, she is deeply committed to education and the transmission of expertise in neuromuscular medicine. As a member of the AcadeMYO faculty, Dr Stojkovic brings her extensive clinical experience and multidisciplinary perspective to the teaching programme, helping participants develop a practical understanding of the complex relationship between nerve and muscle in neuromuscular disease.

 

Nur VILLAR Speaker Content
Nur VILLAR

Nur VILLAR

MD, PhD
Maître de conférences des universités-praticien hospitalier (MCU-PH)

Centre de Référence des maladies neuromusculaires Nord / Est / Île-de-France

Service de Neuromyologie, Sorbonne Université

Dr Nur Villar-Quiles is a neurologist specialising in neuromuscular diseases and a Senior Neurologist and Associate Professor at Sorbonne University, based in the Neuro-Myology Department of Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière and the Institut de Myologie in Paris. Her clinical expertise includes myopathies, congenital myasthenic syndromes and muscle channelopathies.

After completing her medical studies in Barcelona and neurology training in Madrid, Dr Villar-Quiles joined the Fundamental and Translational Myology Laboratory led by Prof. Ana Ferreiro in Paris, where she obtained her PhD focusing on the phenotype, pathophysiology and genetics of congenital myopathies with neurominicore disease. She subsequently completed specialised clinical training in neuromuscular disorders and electromyography at Pitié-Salpêtrière.

Her research combines clinical observation with genetic and molecular investigation, with particular interest in congenital myopathies and congenital myasthenic syndromes. She has contributed to the characterisation of rare neuromuscular disorders, including SEPN1-related myopathies, and to the study of muscle channelopathies such as Andersen–Tawil syndrome. More recently, her work has also addressed congenital myasthenic syndromes caused by defects in neuromuscular transmission.

Alongside her clinical and research activities, Dr Villar-Quiles is actively involved in teaching and international collaboration in neuromuscular medicine. She is a Healthcare Provider within the European Reference Network for Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), contributing to the exchange of expertise in the diagnosis and management of rare neuromuscular disorders.

As a member of the AcadeMYO faculty, Dr Villar-Quiles shares her expertise in rare and complex neuromuscular disorders, including muscle channelopathies. Her teaching reflects her translational approach, connecting advances in genetics and pathophysiology with the clinical diagnosis and management of patients. In the 2026 Summer School, she teaches the session on Muscle Channelopathies, focusing on their genetic and electrophysiological mechanisms and clinical management.

 

LIVE SESSIONS

WINTER AcadeMYO draft program 2026 

(schedules are given in Paris local time, CET)

DEC 14th 2026
3.00 PM
 
Clinical Trials in Myology

- Michella IBRAHIM

3.30 PM
 
Newborn Screening in NM Disorders:Including SMA, DMD & others 

- TBC

4.00 PM
 
Interactive workshop (CASE STUDIES)

- J. Andoni Urtizberea, Gorka Fernández-Eulate,Teresinha Evangelista, Marion Masingue

 

5.30 PM
 
SMA Therapeutics in the LMIC Setting 

-  Dr.Vishnu V.Y

6.00 PM
 
Myasthenia Gravis

- Anthony BEHIN 

6.30 PM
 
ASK THE EXPERTS
 
DEC 15th
2026
3.00 PM
 
Muscle Imaging including MRI & Ultrasound

-Harmen REYNGOUDT

3.30 PM
 
Periodic Paralysis: Diagnostic and Management
- Nur Rocio VILLAR QUILES 
4.00 PM
 
Interactive workshop (CASE STUDIES)

-  J. Andoni Urtizberea,Teresinha Evangelista, Marion Masingue, Gorka Fernandez-Eulate

5.30 PM
 
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)

- Nicol VOERMANS

6.00 PM
 
Pompe disease 

- Pascal LAFORET 

6.30 PM
 
ASK THE EXPERTS
CASE REPORTS BY PARTICIPANTS 
DEC 16th
2026
3.00 PM
 
Congential  Myasthenic Syndromes

- Sithara RAMDAS

3.30 PM
 
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

- Andreea SEFERIAN

4.00 PM
 
interactive workshop (CASE STUDIES)

- J. Andoni Urtizberea, Gorka Fernández-Eulate, Jorge Bevilacqua, Teresinha Dias Evangelista, Marion Masingue

5.30 PM
 
Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophies

- Sruthi NAIR

6.00 PM
 
METABOLIC /LIPIDOSIS

- Gorka Fernández-Eulate

6.30 PM
 
ASK THE EXPERTS
CASE REPORTS BY PARTICIPANTS 
 

PRE-RECORDED LECTURES (2021-2022-2023-2025)

close to 70 hours of lectures delivered by experts in myology

Speaker Country Topic
Basic Myology    
Bruno ALLARD Lyon, France Muscle anatomy and physiology (2021)
Nicol VOERMANS Nijmegen, NL Semiology in NMD (2021)
Pascale RICHARD Paris, France Genetics and NMD (2021)
Yann PEREON Nantes, France The Sound of EMG (2021)
Teresinha EVANGELISTA Paris, France Muscle histology (2021)
Pierre CARLIER Orsay, France Imaging of NMD (2021)
Giorgia QUERIN Paris, France Clinical Trials in NMD (2021)
Jean-Yves HOGREL Paris, France Outcome measures in NMD (2021)
Christophe VANDERDRIES Paris, France Nerve Imaging (2022)
Daniel NATERA Barcelona, Spain NGS data interpretation (2022)
Stéphane VASSILOPOULOS  Paris, France Imaging studies of muscle membrane (2022)
Cecilia JIMENEZ-MALLABRERA Barcelona, Spain CRISP-Cas9 therapeutic approaches in neuromuscular disease (2022)
Bjarne UDD Tampere, Finland Titinopathies (2025)
     
Myology in children    
Norma B. ROMERO Paris, France Congenital Myopathies (2021)
Jim DOWLING Toronto, Canada Arthrogryposis and NMD (2021)
France LETURCQ Paris, France Dystrophinopathies (2021)
Hanns LOCHMÜLLER Ottawa, Canada Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes (2021)
Johann BÖHM Strasbourg, France Tubular aggregates myopathies (2021)
Emmanuelle LAGRUE Paris, France Novel therapies in SMA (2021)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France Myotubular myopathy (2021)
Gisèle BONNE Paris, France Laminopathies (2021)
Anders OLDFORS Goetheborg, Sweden Myosinopathies (2021)
Pascale DE LONLAY Paris, France Rhabdomyolysis (2021)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France FOP : a fake myositis (2021)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France Therapies in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (2022)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France STAC3-related myopathy (2022)
Nalini ATCHARAYAM Bangalore, India Congenital myasthenic syndromes in India (2022)
Tamara DANGOULOFF Liège, Belgique Newborn Screening in SMA (2022)
Judith MELKI Bicêtre, France Genetics and pathogenesis of SMA (2022)
Susana QUIJANO-ROY Garches, France  Congenital Muscular Dystrophies (2022)
Vincent LAUGEL Strasbourg, France Childhood hypotonia in the era of newborn screening (2025)
Myology in adults    
Benedikt SCHOESER Muenchen, Germany Myotonic dystrophies (2021)
Bertrand FONTAINE Paris, France Muscle Channelopathies (2021)
Anthony BEHIN Paris, France FSHD (part I) (2021)
Alberto ROSA Cordoba, Argentina FSHD (part II) (2021)
Bjarne UDD Tampere, Finland Distal myopathies (2021)
Olivier BENVENISTE Paris, France Immune-related myopathies (2021)
Bruno EYMARD Paris, France Myasthenia Gravis (2021)
Montse OLIVE Barcelona, Spain Myofibrillar Myopathies (2021)
Pascal LAFORET Garches, France Disorders of muscle lipid metabolism (2021)
Andoni ECHANIZ-LAGUNA Bicêtre, France Hereditary sensory neuropathies (2021)
Maria-Grazia BIFERI Paris, France Innovative therapies in ALS (2021)
Gillian BUTLER-BROWNE Paris, France Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (2021)
Guillaume NICOLAS Paris, France Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) (2021)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France Limb girdle muscular dystrophies (2021)
Edoardo MALFATTI Créteil, France Polyglucosan myopathies (2022)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France FKRP deficiencies (2022)
Tahseen MOZAFFAR Los Angeles, USA Inclusion body myositis (2022)
Nur VILLAR Paris, France Andersen-Tawil syndrome (2022)
Gorka FERNANDEZ Paris, France Sarcoglycanopathies (2022)
Matteo GARIBALDI Roma, Italy Imaging Vs Morphology (2022)
Werner STENZEL Berlin, Germany Myopathology for connoisseurs (2022)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France GNE myopathy (2022)
Ichizo NISHINO Tokyo, Japan Oculopharyngeoal distal myopathy - OPDM (2022)
Anthony BEHIN Paris, France Myasthenia Gravis, what have we learnt recently? (2025)
Nicol VOERMANS Nijmegen, Netherlands Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (2025)
Translation and Care    
Karim WAHBI Paris, France Cardiac involvement in myopathies (2021)
Hélène PRIGENT Garches, France Respiratory involvement in NMD (2021)
Reinhard ZELLER Toronto, Canada Neuromuscular scoliosis (2021)
Tom ASCHMAN Berlin, Germany Sars-Cov2 related myositis (2021)
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA Paris, France Covid-19 and neuromuscular disorders (2021)
Sophie BOURSANGE Paris, France Psychology and NMD (2021)
Brigitte FAUROUX Paris, France Respiratory Care in Children with NMD (2022)
Robert PANGALILA The Netherlands Quality of Life of patients in neuromuscular disease (2022)
Nicole VOET Nijmegen, NL Rehabilitation as disease-modifying therapy (2022)
Michella IBRAHIM Paris, France Clinical Trials in Myology (2025)
Andreea SEFERIAN Paris, France DMD therapeutical Challenges (2025)
Miscellaneous    
Michel FARDEAU Paris, France La Leçon de Myologie (in French - posted in 2022)
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