Prof Dr Francesco Muntoni

Prof Dr Francesco Muntoni

Professor Francesco Muntoni is a Paediatric Neurologist with an interest in clinical, pathological and molecular aspects of neuromuscular disorders. He is the director of the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, a leading clinical and research institution for children affected by neuromuscular disorders. He graduated in Italy in 1984 and completed his training in Child Neurology and Psychiatry in 1989.
Since obtaining his degree he worked on childhood neuromuscular disorders, initially in Italy and, since 1993, in London. His main areas of research has been focused on the genetic heterogeneity of neuromuscular disorders, with the identification of more than 30 disease genes so far; and on translational research aspects related to neuromuscular disorders and in particular Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. His group led on the development of genetic therapies in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, with the first clinical trials using morpholino antisense oligonucleotide as genetic therapy for this condition.
Professor Muntoni has published over 626 peer-reviewed original manuscripts. Recently, he was awarded the World Duchenne Organisation WDO Leadership Award 2022 and the 2023 European Paediatric Neurology Society Jean Aicardi Award. Amongst his other activities he has been Chair of the Scientific Board of the Myotubular Myopathy Trust since 2007, is a member of the World Federation of Neurology Speciality Group on Rare Neurologic Diseases and is a Board Member of the European Paediatric Neurology Society.