Welcome to the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre
“Performing world class translational research to bring diagnosis, care and therapy to people with neuromuscular disease.”
Launched in November 2014, the Centre brings together and consolidates Newcastle’s distinguished, international and world-leading record in research and care for neuromuscular diseases.
Our team based at the Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, Newcastle University and its associated hospitals work together towards the development and application of genomic and translational medicine to improve the health outcomes of people living with neuromuscular diseases.
As a group, we have developed a close and important link between research and clinical activities and we actively pursue new partnerships with other stakeholders such as patient organisations, regulators and pharma.
The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre is structured around five important strands of activity – clinical care, clinical research, diagnostics, basic research and strategic partnerships and networking – but all are strongly interlinked and the work across these teams is key to our success and impact in the neuromuscular field.
We are immensely proud to have continued to build, shape and develop this Centre’s team of international experts and to be leading them now under the auspicious name of Lord Walton who first established a dedicated and integrated neuromuscular clinical and research unit at Newcastle in the 1950s.
Professor Volker Straub
Professor Jordi Díaz-Manera
Doctor Michela Guglieri
Doctor Chiara Marini-Bettolo
Professor Giorgio Tasca
Emma Heslop
RD-Connect, NeurOmics and EURenOmics: collaborative European initiative for rare diseases
European Journal of Human Genetics - March, 2018
Impaired Presynaptic High-Affinity Choline Transporter Causes a Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome with Episodic Apnea
American Journal of Human Genetics - September, 2016
Mutations in GMPPB cause congenital myasthenic syndrome and bridge myasthenic disorders with dystroglycanopathies
Brain - July, 2015
About John Walton
Lord Walton’s contribution to the field of muscle disease research and patient care is enormous.
He was a leading figure in the field for over 50 years and trained many of the current leaders in the neuromuscular field.