The 27th AcadeMYO Summer School of Myology took place from 29 June to 3 July 2026 at the Institute of Myology, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière (Babinski Building), Paris, France. The course was directed by Professor Bertrand Fontaine and developed with the support of the Programme Committee, including Dr J. Andoni Urtizberea, Dr Marion Masingue, Dr Gorka Fernández-Eulate, Dr Harmen Reyngoudt, Dr Andreea Seferian, Dr Stéphane Vassilipoulos, and Professor Jorge Bevilacqua.

The Summer School, which received financial support of £5,000 to support speaker travel and accommodation expenses through our project proposal programme, welcomed approximately 30 participants from more than 20 nationalities, including neurologists, physicians, researchers, scientists, allied healthcare professionals, and industry representatives. The international and multidisciplinary nature of the course promoted active exchanges between participants with diverse clinical and scientific backgrounds.

The programme was designed to update participants on current trends and innovations in myology while equipping them with practical tools for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of neuromuscular disorders.

Over five days, participants attended a comprehensive scientific programme combining lectures, case-study sessions, hands-on workshops, and on-site visits. The main educational topics included clinical myology and diagnostic algorithms, muscular dystrophies including limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and hereditary neuropathies, muscle channelopathies, metabolic myopathies, myotonic dystrophies (DM), myasthenia gravis, motor neuropathies and CMT mimickers, therapeutic approaches in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), advanced MRI biomarkers and outcome measures, distal and myofibrillar myopathies, congenital myopathies, and innovative movement analysis techniques.

A central component of the programme was the daily case-study sessions, during which participants worked through real clinical cases under the guidance of expert faculty members. These sessions encouraged interaction, clinical reasoning, and discussion of diagnostic and management strategies, helping participants translate theoretical knowledge into practical decision-making. The Summer School also offered hands-on workshops and on-site visits, allowing participants to gain direct exposure to the clinical, diagnostic, and research activities of the Institute of Myology. Workshop topics included muscle histology and pathology, myogenetics and bioinformatics, electrophysiology, muscle electron microscopy, neuromuscular physiology and functional evaluation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and spectroscopy, adult and paediatric clinical trials, muscle ultrasound, respiratory management, and a historical tour of the Salpêtrière Hospital. These practical sessions provided valuable insight into the technologies, methodologies, and multidisciplinary expertise involved in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases.

Beyond the scientific programme, the Summer School provided an excellent environment for networking and international collaboration. The small group format, combined with daily case study sessions, workshops, informal discussions, Q&A sessions with speakers, and the networking dinner, encouraged participants to exchange experiences and establish professional connections throughout the week.

Bringing together clinicians, researchers, and industry representatives from more than 20 nationalities created valuable opportunities for future collaborations, knowledge sharing, and the development of international research and clinical networks in the field of neuromuscular diseases.

A particular strength of this year's programme was the participation of Professors Jorge Bevilacqua and Giorgio Tasca, both active members of the World Muscle Society (WMS). Their involvement represented an excellent opportunity for participants to engage directly with internationally recognised experts and further strengthened the close relationship between the Summer School and the wider WMS community. Their contributions helped enrich scientific discussions and foster international collaboration in the field of neuromuscular diseases.

Overall, the 2026 Summer School of Myology successfully achieved its educational objectives by combining high-quality scientific content, practical training, interactive case-based learning, and valuable networking opportunities. The programme once again demonstrated its value as a leading international educational initiative supporting the professional development of clinicians and researchers dedicated to improving the diagnosis, management, and treatment of neuromuscular disorders.

The Institute of Myology and AcadeMYO Coordination Team wrote to all delegates to express their gratitude to the WMS, saying: “The Institute of Myology and the AcadeMYO Summer School team warmly thank the WMS for its sponsorship of the 27^th edition of the AcadeMYO Summer School.

“We are grateful for the WMS’s commitment to advancing education, scientific exchange and excellence in the field of neuromuscular disorders. Their sponsorship plays an important role in the success of this year’s Summer School, enabling us to deliver a high-quality educational programme and foster a truly international learning environment for healthcare professionals, researchers and clinicians.

“We appreciate the WMS’s support and its dedication to strengthening the global neuromuscular community through education and collaboration.”

Our project proposals programme supports our ambition of breaking down demographic barriers, making sure everyone within our community has equal access to learning and resources while continuing our collective efforts to ensure that scientists around the world can network, learn from one another, share science and foster collaboration in the field.

For more information about the programme, including details of how to submit your own bid, please visit the project proposals page of the WMS website.