Volker Straub

In December 2002, Professor Volker Straub joined the University as Professor of Neuromuscular Genetics. Along with colleague Professor Kate Bushby, he co-ordinates TREAT-NMD, a European Union Network of Excellence for the development of translational research in rare neuromuscular diseases. He also jointly coordinates the German muscular dystrophy network, MD-NET, along with Professor Hanns Lochmüller. Within the neuromuscular research group Prof. Straub has a long-standing interest in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophies. Mechanisms of muscle fibre damage and repair are studied in zebrafish (with Dr D Bassett) and mouse models for the diseases. The application of contrast enhanced MRI gives an insight into the dynamic processes underlying muscle fibre de- and regeneration. The group’s work is supported by the EU, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, the Association Francaise contre les Myopathies, the British Heart Foundation, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Department of Health and the MRC.

Recent publications:

Bushby, K., S. Lynn, and V. Straub, Collaborating to bring new therapies to the patient--the TREAT-NMD model. Acta Myol, 2009. 28(1): p. 12-5 

Kinali M, Arechavala-Gomeza V, Feng L, Cirak S, Hunt D, Adkin C, Guglieri M, Ashton E, Abbs S, Nihoyannopoulos P, Garralda ME, Rutherford E, McCulley C, Poppwell L, Graham I, Dickson G, Wood M, Wells DJ, Wilton S, Holt T, Kole R, Straub V, Bushby K, Sewry CA, Morgan JE, Muntoni F. Local Restoration of Dystrophin Expression in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Single Blind, Placebo-controlled Dose Escalation Study Using Morpholino Antisense Oligomer AVI-4658. Lancet Neurol. 2009 8(10):918-28 

Mercuri, E., et al., Towards harmonisation of outcome measures for DMD and SMA within TREAT-NMD; report of three expert workshops: TREAT-NMD/ENMC workshop on outcome measures, 12th--13th May 2007, Naarden, The Netherlands; TREAT-NMD workshop on outcome measures in experimental trials for DMD, 30th June--1st July 2007, Naarden, The Netherlands; conjoint Institute of Myology TREAT-NMD meeting on physical activity monitoring in neuromuscular disorders, 11th July 2007, Paris, France. Neuromuscul Disord, 2008. 18(11): p. 894-903 

Bauer, R., et al., Steroid treatment causes deterioration of myocardial function in the {delta}-sarcoglycandeficient mouse model for dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Res, 2008. 79(4): p. 652-61 

Thornhill, P., et al., Developmental defects in a zebrafish model for muscular dystrophies associated with the loss of fukutin-related protein (FKRP). Brain, 2008. 131(Pt 6): p. 1551-61 

Straub V. and Bushby K. (2008). ‘Therapeutic possibilities in the autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies’. Neurotherapeutics. 5(4), pp 619-26.

Windpassinger C, Schoser B, Straub V, Hochmeister S, Noor A, Lohberger B, Farra N, Petek E, Schwarzbraun T, Ofner L, Löscher WN, Wagner K, Lochmüller H, Vincent JB, Quasthoff S. An X-linked myopathy with postural muscle atrophy and generalized hypertrophy, termed XMPMA, is caused by mutations in FHL1. Am J Hum Genet. 2008 Jan;82(1):88-99.

Contact details

TREAT-NMD Office
Institute of Human Genetics
Newcastle University
International Centre for Life
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3BZ
United Kingdom

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Direct tel:  +44 (0) 191 241 8762
Fax: +44 (0) 191 241 8770