What is Treat-NMD?

Treat-NMD is an international network of scientists, researchers and clinicians working in the neuromuscular field. It provides an invaluable infrastructure to ensure that the most promising new therapies reach patients as quickly as possible. Treat-NMD holds a bi-annual review meeting called TACT, The Treat NMD Advisory Committee for Therapeutics at which potential trials and neuromuscular treatments are reviewed. This is a unique multi-disciplinary international group of well recognised academic and industry drug development experts as well as representatives of patient foundations and institutional governmental scientific research centres, who meet to review and provide guidance on the translation and development path of therapeutics programmes in rare neuromuscular diseases with large unmet need.  

What is the TACT meeting?

Established in 2009, the TREAT-NMD Advisory Committee for Therapeutics (TACT) is a unique multi-disciplinary international group of well recognized academic and industry drug development experts as well as representatives of patient foundations and institutional governmental scientific research centers, who meet twice a year to review and provide guidance on the translation and development path of therapeutics programs in rare neuromuscular diseases with large unmet need. The confidential and comprehensive review provides recommendations including go-no-go milestones, is independent of any funding stream however it may enable subsequent funding.

The TACT Chair rotates on a 3 yearly basis. Dr Kathryn Wagner took over from Professor Dominic Wells, in 2015.

http://www.treat-nmd.eu/resources/tact/introduction/

How we support Treat-NMD and TACT

Duchenne UK is co-funding Cathy Turner, the DMD programme and TACT coordinator based at Treat-NMD in Newcastle.

The role of the Treat-NMD and TACT coordinator is to work with Professors Bushby and Straub, and the TACT secretariat, based at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre in Newcastle, to develop our clinical trial agenda and support the excellent work of Treat NMD and their TACT meetings to review potential Duchenne Clincial trials and advance and progress the research agenda. 

We are co-funding this post with the Duchenne Research Fund for five years. We believe this long term funding is crucial to recruiting and maintaining the most committed, experienced and dedicated staff.

We also make grants to support Treat-NMD's bi-annual TACT meetings.

Cathy Turner is the DMD Programme & TACT Coordinator, based at The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre at Newcastle University.

She works closely with colleagues (in Newcastle and beyond) involved in all aspects of Duchenne diagnosis, care and research - from physiotherapists, clinical consultants and trial coordinators to lab-based research staff, patient organisations and members of international networks such as TREAT-NMD.

This means that Cathy can act as a link between Duchenne related activities involving these stakeholders and help to join-up efforts and initiatives which relate to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Specifically, she also coordinates the TREAT-NMD Advisory Committee for Therapeutics (TACT). This is a unique multi-disciplinary and international group of leading academic and industry drug development experts as well as representatives from patient foundations and regulatory experts. A TACT review provides detailed guidance on the translation and development path of therapeutics programs in rare neuromuscular diseases, many of which have been for Duchenne.

Please CLICK HERE to see Cathy’s Poster from the EMRC meeting.

We would like to thank The Sobell Foundation and The Mulberry Trust for their grants which help fund this project.