Fondation Maladies Rares/CMT-France: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Diseases

Funding is available to researchers worldwide for basic, translational and clinical research into Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases and related neuropathies. 

Fondation Maladies Rares (Foundation for Rare Diseases) is a non-profit umbrella organisation created in 2012 within the framework of France’s second National Rare Diseases Plan. Its two main objectives are to understand rare diseases in order to facilitate their diagnosis and accelerate the development of new treatments and to improve the daily lives of people with rare diseases and their families. Its overall mission is to promote, coordinate and support research on rare diseases to alleviate the social and therapeutic isolation of individuals afflicted with rare diseases and thus improve their daily life.

CMT-France, established in 1990 by volunteer patients, is a French non-profit association that is reconnue d’intérêt général. It was established to represent those affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) and related neuropathies in France. A member of the Alliance Maladies Rares, CMT-France works to provide scientific information and support for people affected by the condition.

CMT diseases are genetic, hereditary, neuromuscular progressive diseases which do not affect life expectancy. The diseases affect the peripheral nerves, leading to amyotrophy of the calves, forearms and hands. There are numerous different forms of CMT, depending on the nature of the peripheral nerve damage. The large number of genes involved in CMT and their clinical heterogeneity make the search for therapeutic approaches complex. Multidisciplinary care is based on physical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, orthopaedic devices and familial, psychological and social care.

Fondation Maladies Rares and CMT-France have launched a joint call for proposals to support innovative basic, translational or clinical research programmes on CMT. All disciplines in the biomedical sciences or the humanities and social sciences are eligible. The programme seeks to support at least one project in each of the following categories:

• Development of therapeutic strategies.
• Improvement of quality of everyday life.