MYASTAID is a STREP-SME (Specific targeted Research Project dedicated to small and medium enterprises) supported by the EC FP6 program, which focuses on Myasthenia Gravis, a rare disease.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic heterogeneous autoimmune neuromuscular disease, characterized by abnormal muscle fatigability. Most patients have antibodies against acetylcholine receptor (AChR). To date, available treatments do not generally result in clinical remission.



The project MYASTAID has several objectives:

1. To elucidate the pathological mechanisms occurring at the thymus effector site
2. To investigate the pathological mechanisms at the muscle, target of the autoimmune attack
3. To understand why there is a high female prevalence among the young MG patient population

A better knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms will help in devising new therapeutics approaches. More precisely, through the expertise of four academic teams, leaders in this domain, and of six industrial partners, this STREP-SME aims at developing in-vivo and in-vitro models to further our understanding of the disease and progress towards better diagnosis, follow-up, and therapy of patients with MG, with an end to generate appropriate pharmaceutical products to be made commercially available.