SMArt Horizon

A joint initiative

The SMArt Horizon project is a collaborative initiative of SMA Europe and the SMA Foundation, financially largely supported by FundAME through its Calendar Fund, Spierziekten Nederland and SMA Schweiz, aiming to identify innovative therapies for SMA, including exploring spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for people living with SMA.

Patients drive innovation

In SMArt Horizon, we and our member organisations are actively scanning the research fields for ground-breaking new research, trying to identfiy new innovative approaches for the treatment of SMA and, eventually, bring these to the SMA community. 

In this initative we are closely collaborating with the SMA Foundation.

 

SMArt Horizon Initiative

Meet Carmen on her journey through the Spinal Cord Stimulation clinical study.

Episode 4

Episode 3

Episode 2

Episode 1

New study: Testing Spinal Cord Simulation in SMA Patients

Background:

SCS stimulates sensory neurons in the spinal cord which then enhance the activity of remaining motor neurons, which can increase muscle strength and function.​

SCS has shown remarkable efficacy in restoring motor function in people with spinal cord injuries and stroke.

A previous study conducted by SMA Foundation in collaboration with Roche started in October 2022 with a 22-year-old patient. It shows promising results so far: increased motor firing rates and strength were observed over the course of the study in this first patient. The second patient's study began in February 2023 and is showing promising results.

Our support:

SMArt Horizon has decided to finance the study of Spinal cord stimulation in the upper limbs, to shorten the time so that it can begin now, without having to wait for the study in the lower limbs to finish. The goal is to find out its' impact on arm and hand functionality​ in people living with SMA.

​This study focuses on non-ambulant people, living with SMA, due to their significant unmet needs.​

SMArt Horizon is divided into 4 steps:

  • Scanning and Identifying
  • Attracting scientists to SMA by building a relationship and by assessing the mutual relevance
  • Supporting by seed-funding research projects
  • Implementing by bringing promising research to clinics and to the patients

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