The TREAT-NMD Expert LGMD Masterclass, held on 24th and 25th April 2025 in Montreal, Canada, brought together healthcare professionals from across North America, along with a small number of attendees from Europe and South America, for a one-and-a-half-day educational experience focused on Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD).
The programme featured two dedicated tracks: a clinician stream co-chaired by Dr Nicholas Johnson (Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, USA) and Dr Jodi Warman Chardon (The Ottawa Hospital, Canada), and a specialised physiotherapy stream led by Dr Megan Iammarino (Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, USA) and Dr Molly Stark (Greg Marzolf Jr. Muscular Dystrophy Center at the University of Minnesota, USA).
The Masterclass was designed to provide participants with direct access to the latest insights from clinical experts and patient representatives. Sessions covered diagnostic strategies such as MRI, biopsies and genetic testing, standards of care for respiratory and cardiac management, updates on current and emerging therapies, and powerful patient perspectives from an individual living with LGMD and advocacy groups.
The physiotherapy track has been highlighted as a particularly valued element of the programme, offering practical sessions focused on outcome measures, natural history, and individualised care planning. Early feedback has praised the interactive format and the benefit of knowledge exchange across disciplines.
While full feedback is still being collected, initial responses have been overwhelmingly positive. Participants have emphasised the relevance of the content, the high calibre of the speakers, and the importance of providing a dedicated space for physiotherapists and allied health professionals.
We extend our sincere thanks to all participants, speakers, patient advocates, and organisers who helped make the 2025 LGMD Masterclass such a meaningful and productive event.
Special thanks to our funders—Sarepta Therapeutics, ML Bio Solutions, and AskBio – who generously supported the event but were not involved in any way in determining the content of the masterclass, the speaker selection or the delegate application process.
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