Our collaboration with Dr. Juan Vílchez Padilla, currently an Honorary Professor at the University of Valencia, has been instrumental in advancing research at the intersection of genetics, molecular biology, and clinical neurology. As a distinguished clinical researcher and former Head of the Neurology Department at La Fe Hospital in Valencia, Dr. Vílchez has brought invaluable expertise to our joint efforts. Together, we have focused on unraveling the molecular and clinical aspects of myotonic dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2 (LGMDD2), resulting in several impactful publications. His leadership and deep understanding of neuromuscular diseases have enriched our shared projects, fostering a multidisciplinary approach that bridges clinical and basic research. This collaboration reflects our mutual commitment to scientific excellence, the development of novel therapeutic strategies, and the training of the next generation of researchers.  

As one of the scientists who discovered the CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene as the mutation responsible for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Professor Mani S. Mahadevan helped establish the molecular basis of the disease and laid the foundations for the development of current therapeutic strategies. Over the past three decades, his work has been pivotal in advancing our understanding of DM1 pathogenesis, from elucidating RNA toxicity as a central disease mechanism to developing widely used animal models and evaluating novel therapeutic approaches. In recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements and long-standing collaboration with our team, the University of Valencia has appointed Professor Mahadevan as an Honorary Professor. In this role, he will provide strategic scientific guidance for the long-term development of the Human Translational Genomics Group and serve as a senior mentor to our PhD students and early-career researchers, strengthening scientific excellence and the international impact of our research.

To be provided