The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre is one of three centres in England for the diagnosis and management of inherited muscle diseases and runs clinics in Newcastle and at various locations across the north of England.
A service for acquired neuromuscular conditions is also delivered through The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust.
How to access the service
A patient can be referred for treatment in the centre by a Physiotherapist, occupational therapist, GP, consultant, specialist nurse or a care advisor.
The team
Professor Volker Straub
Neurologist
Professor Volker Straub was founding joint co-ordinator of TREAT-NMD, and is an executive board member of the World Muscle Society and Research and Development Director of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Straub has a long-standing interest in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophies.
Dr James Miller
Consultant Neurologist
Dr James Miller has a specialist interest in neuromuscular disease and in particular acquired and immune-mediated disorders including myositis, CIDP and myasthenia gravis. Dr. Miller has established specialist multidisciplinary clinics for patients with dermatomyositis and with paraprotein related neuropathies.
Dr Chiara Marini-Bettolo
Consultant Neurologist
Dr Chiara Marini-Bettolo joined the Newcastle neuromuscular team in 2014 and see's patients with muscle-wasting conditions in clinic. Dr Marini-Bettolo also chairs the Northern England Neuromuscular Clinical Network, aiming to improve care and support for people with muscle-wasting conditions in the region.
Professor Doug Turnbull
Consultant Neurologist
Professor Turnbull is the National lead of the National Highly Specialised Services for Rare Mitochondrial Diseases of Children and Adults. This involves 3 centres (Newcastle, London and Oxford) and provides diagnostic and specialist clinical services for patients with mitochondrial diseases. He is also the Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research
Other key people in the team include:
- Michelle McCallum, Physiotherapist
- Louise Hastings, Genetic Specialist Nurse
- Gail Eglon, Specialist Nurse
- Dr Chiara Marini Bettolo, Speciality Doctor
- Dr Rita Barresi, Muscle Immunoanalysis
- Joe Mason, Specialist Neuromuscular Care Advisor
Clinics
Adult
Clinics are held at Newcastle, Carlisle and Middlesbrough
- Inherited muscle disease (including national for LGMD)
- Mitochondrial disease (some national services)
- Specialised nurse led myotonic dystrophy clinics with cardiology input
- Congenital myasthenia
- Inherited peripheral neuropathy
- Acquired neuropathy
- Inflammatory muscle disease
- Orthotics
- Dedicated neuromuscular cardiology
- Access to respiratory, gastroenterological, orthopaedic clinics with close liaison with NMD team as appropriate
Children
Clinics are held at Newcastle, Carlisle, Whitehaven, Stockton, Hartlepool and Sunderland
- Fast track assessment of suspected Duchenne muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy type 1/2
- Inherited muscle disease(including national referrals for LGMD and others)
- Congenital myasthenia
- Inherited peripheral neuropathy
- Inflammatory muscle disease
- Mitochondrial disease
- Arthrogryposis
- Orthotics
- Dedicated neuromuscular cardiology
- Access to respiratory, gastroenterological, orthopaedic clinics with close liaison with NMD team as appropriate