After 29 years at Newcastle University, Professor Katie Bushby MD FRCP has announced her retirement as Professor of Neuromuscular Genetics and as coordinator of our ERN from the end of May 2018.

Whilst her presence will be hugely missed, Katie’s influence and legacy will continue to have an enormous impact on the international neuromuscular disease field. Although officially retiring, Katie plans to stay involved in key aspects of the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre via an honorary position as Professor Emerita at Newcastle University.

The EURO-NMD Coordination Team, as well as the entire team of the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, wish Katie a wonderful and fulfilling retirement and would like to express huge gratitude for all she has done to benefit the lives of people living with neuromuscular conditions.

As result of this news, the EURO-NMD Executive Committee has given Teresinha Evangelista the mandate to step into the role of “acting coordinator” to ensure the network’s continuity of work until a time when a new coordinator is elected by the Board and confirmed by the European Commission. The Commission will be asked to accept this change once the Board confirms this mandate and we will keep you informed when this has been officially agreed via our various channels of communication.