Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre confirmed as Centre of Paediatric Clinical and Research Excellence

22 Mar 2016, 3:37 p.m.

The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre at GOSH and the ICH is a Muscular Dystrophy UK Paediatric Centre for Research and Clinical Excellence

The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre has been confirmed as a Centre of Paediatric Clinical and Research Excellence by Muscular Dystrophy UK. The centre, based at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH), is one of only ten Centres of Excellence and is the sole Paediatric Centre of Clinical and Research Excellence. This award recognises centres with outstanding levels of specialist care for people living with muscle wasting conditions.

The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre is a leading clinical- and research centre specialising in neuromuscular disorders affecting children. The centre provides clinical assessments, diagnostic services, and advice on treatment and rehabilitation alongside clinical trials and basic research focusing on causes of neuromuscular diseases in childhood and identifying new therapeutic interventions. The status was awarded following a national audit carried out by Muscular Dystrophy UK, aimed at ensuring that high-quality care is provided to patients with muscle-wasting conditions.

Great Ormond Street BRC Theme Lead, Professor Francesco Muntoni, is Head of the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, and also leads the Novel Therapies for Translation in Childhood Diseases and the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at the ICH. He is co-director of the MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases at UCL.

Spotlight on our Research Co-ordinators

Meet the staff who keep clinical trials on track, ensure the data is up-to-date, that rules are followed and families get their agreed upon support.

Better understanding leukaemia for children with down syndrome

Researchers have mapped the evolution of a type of leukaemia that is exclusive to children with Down syndrome and may have identified an overarching weakness in the cancer's genetic makeup.

NHS eye gene therapy restores Saffie's sight

Saffie has had her sight restored thanks to life-changing eye gene therapy for rare blindness at GOSH

£3M study led by patient voices targets pain in inflammatory arthritis

A new £3 million research programme involving Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London researchers aims to tackle one of the largest unmet clinical needs in inflammatory arthritis – pain reduction.