The 4th Pisa Muscle Award (PMA) will focus on the theme “Multisystem involvement in neuromuscular diseases”, expanding the perspective of previous editions, which mainly focused on basic pathways of muscle damage in neuromuscular disorders (NMD) such as muscle degeneration, muscle inflammation and muscle remodeling . Builded up on new acquisition in this topic, this edition aims to explore the interactions between muscle, brain, heart and other organs, emphasizing those peculiarities of pathogenic molecular mechanisms for extramuscle manifestations of NMD, among which cell structural damage, metabolism derangement, mitochondrial dysfunction and RNA toxicity.
Particular attention will be devoted to the identification of multisystem biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and especially treatment monitoring, emphasizing those clinical challenges posed by systemic involvement in NMD. International experts in clinical and translational research will present the latest advances, including precision medicine and innovative therapies. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the aim is to bridge pathophysiology and clinical practice, improving outcomes for patients with neuromuscular diseases.
The 2026 edition of the Pisa Muscle Award will be granted on behalf of the AIM
(Associazione Italiana di Miologia).