Breathing with Neuromuscular Disease: Translation to Therapy

Symposium — Thursday, April 29, 2021 — 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Virtual Session, Room APS-12
The Physiological Society-UK (PHYSOC) — Chair: Ken O'Halloran — Co-Chair: Mai ElMallah

This symposium will draw focus to recent advances in the understanding of respiratory control in neuromuscular diseases, with a focus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Pompe disease and ALS. Dr. Petrof will review evidence from translational animal models that have allowed for a comprehensive characterisation of respiratory muscle remodelling contributing to disease onset and progression. Recent work by Dr Burns has provided novel insight into the broad vista of the deficits and compensations affecting respiratory system performance in muscular dystrophy, with implications for therapeutic strategies. Dr. Smith will describe deficits and compensations in persons with neuromuscular disease (Pompe and ALS) and novel evaluations of cardiopulmonary function. All three speakers will discuss pharmacotherapy and rehabilitative strategies that provide a road map for the development of effective interventional treatments for this devastating disease.

Speakers

• Introduction
  Ken O'Halloran — University College Cork, Ireland
  4:00 PM - 4:05 PM


• Evidence for Trained Immunity in the mdx Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
  Basil J. Petrof — Respiratory Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  4:05 PM - 4:30 PM


• Compensatory Plasticity of Breathing in Patients with Neuromuscular Disease.
  Barbara K. Smith — Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida
  4:30 PM - 4:55 PM


• Understanding Respiratory Compromise in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Pre-Clinical Perspective.
  David P. Burns — Department of Physiology, University College Cork, Ireland
  4:55 PM - 5:20 PM


• Conclusion
  Ken O'Halloran — University College Cork, Ireland
  5:20 PM - 5:30 PM