Preclinical research
The preclinical phase of research is so critical to the decisions made about a possible future therapy hence, it is very important that experiments done at this stage are based on best practice. This means both choosing the most appropriate animal model and doing the experiments in a way that ensures they are comparable and reproducible in different labs. This minimizes the risk of discarding a useful therapy, or conversely, taking a compound into trial in humans that is then proven to have no effect.
Network groups are in the process of identifying procedures and guidelines that they regularly use and feel should be included on our website. Below we have included three which our imaging group have initially highlighted. We will add more here in due course as network groups get in touch.
Standard operating procedures
Recommended Standards for Muscle Biopsies
Published: January 2019Journal: EURO-NMD Publication
Disease: Neuromuscular disease
Type of publication: Clinical research, Guidelines, Pathology, Standard Operating Procedures
Link: Recomended Standards for Muscle Biopsies
Quantifying fat replacement of muscle by quantitative MRI in muscular dystrophy
Published: June 2017Journal: Journal of Neurology
Disease: Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Type of publication: Imaging/mRI, Standard Operating Procedures
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-017-8547-3
Skeletal Muscle Quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy as an Outcome Measure for Clinical Trials
Published: March 2016Journal: Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases
Disease: Becker muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Type of publication: Imaging/mRI, Standard Operating Procedures
DOI: 10.3233/JND-160145
Towards harmonization of protocols for MRI outcome measures in skeletal muscle studies: Consensus recommendations from two TREAT-NMD NMR workshops, 2 May 2010, Stockholm, Sweden, 1–2 October 2009, Paris, France
Published: October 2012Journal: Neuromuscular Disorders
Disease: Pompe disease
Type of publication: Imaging/mRI, Standard Operating Procedures
DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2012.06.005
Addtional operating procedures of note
The TREAT-NMD website hosts documentation covering a number of standardised protocols and procedures that are widely used in with disease models.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy
Congenital muscular dystrophy
Please note – Currently, these operating procedures, although extensively used worldwide, haven’t been endorsed by EURO-NMD. They are included in this section of the website to highlight some of the work that has already been undertaken, as such this should not be considered a comprehensive list of procedures for disease models.
