In 1995 a scientific workshop was held in Tokyo, jointly organised by R. Whalen and S. Takeda. Its aim was to promote Franco-Japanese cooperation in the field of gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases. Following this, it was decided that future workshops would be jointly organised, alternating between Tokyo and Paris. The first exchanges naturally concerned the themes of fundamental myology and congenital muscular dystrophies, where there was an obvious common interest. In this way, many well-known Japanese physicians and scientists such as Y. Fukuyama and K. Arahata were able to develop links of collaboration, but also of friendship with their French counterparts. 

 

Ten years after the first Franco-Japanese Workshop on Myology, the Sixth brought together about 80 researchers from the two countries at the Institute of Myology in Paris on 1 - 2 July this year. As ever, the exchanges were fruitful and intense, with the priority now given to therapeutic aims – an area of preference where there is already a rich information flow between our two countries – to the greater benefit of our patients.

 

And now a new generation of researchers is taking over from the founding fathers to ensure the continuity of these workshops. Among them are Gisèle Bonne (Inserm 582, Institute of Myology) and Ikuya Nishino (Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo) who have agreed to organise the next meeting.