AMS Professorship award for Professor Jordi Diaz Manera, Newcastle University

In my career I have combined clinical research, improving the diagnosis of patients, with basic research, exploring the mechanisms of genetic muscle diseases. I am now at a point of transition, entering a new phase as Professor of Neuromuscular Disorders.

The award of this prestigious Professorship will allow me to build upon my basic research and to focus on translational research activities, aiming to apply findings from cell biology experiments to animal models and ultimately to clinical indications. The grant will allow me to apply advanced technologies to expand my research.

I will use this award to pursue the following basic research projects: 1) analysis of the dynamics of the different subpopulations of muscle cells in biopsies of patients with MD using Mass Cytometry, a new technology that allows imaging of up to 30 cell markers together, 2) isolation of these subsets of cells from human muscle biopsies using sorting for full in vitro characterization, including cell to cell interaction in coculture, 3) combination of proteomics and genomics to dissect the signaling and molecular pathways governing cell function that will lead us to identify new targets for therapies and, 4) screening of therapeutic compounds that target the key molecular pathways identified in cells in vitro for further characterization in animal models of MD.

This award will provide additional resources to develop my basic research activities and to focus on translational applications.

I will investigate how distinct downstream signaling pathways govern the muscle degenerative process and use drugs that selectively modulate this process. There is a large unmet need for new treatments that could modify the natural history of MD.

The research results could have a broader impact than other treatment strategies that are disease or even mutation-specific, as MD share common degenerative pathways. The grant is a perfect fit for my research plan, as it will fund my basic research program during these first years.

Having recently moved from Spain and not being allowed to transfer my funding to the UK, the award will enable me to set-up my research group and use cutting-edge equipment to compete with other established research groups.

My aim is to carry out pioneering research in the field of MD, an area with strong unmet clinical needs, high social relevance and a clear economic impact.

The award will give me the opportunity to collaborate with the network of research groups already working on fibrosis and muscle regeneration in Newcastle and to establish new partnerships with academics, clinicians and industry both in the UK and overseas. This project will provide the underpinning data for competitive MRC and Wellcome Trust research applications.

My objective is to build a multi-disciplinary team of researchers to perform high quality patient-centered research.

The combination of an active multi-disciplinary team working on translational research with the excellent academic environment offered by Newcastle University should attract young talent and convert my lab into a key training center for the next generation of muscle focused translational researchers.