Teaching Courses
Teaching Courses
Date: 7 July 2026
Location: Fortezza da Basso – Spadolini
Access: Pre-Registration required
Cost: €200.00 per course
Description: The ICNMD will feature a series of Teaching Courses. These Teaching Courses will cover a variety of topics. Attendance requires pre-registration and a separate fee.
7 July 2026 | 08:00-10:00
TC01: Teaching Course - Pain in NMD
TC01: Teaching Course - Pain in NMD
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 08:00-10:00
Description: Pain is a common and clinically relevant manifestation of several neuromuscular disorders, contributing to functional impairment and diminished quality of life. Beyond motor weakness and disability, pain may result from complex and multifactorial mechanisms, with major differences in prevalence and severity across specific disorders and disease stages. In some conditions, pain is a major feature, requiring an improved recognition of its causes and characteristics. This teaching course aims to provide an overview of the assessment and management of pain in neuropathies and myopathies, highlighting the importance of a multidimensional approach to optimize individualized strategies.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Tiziana Mongini | Italy |
| Speaker | Painful neuropathies | Grazia Devigili | Italy |
| Speaker | Myalgia in myopathies | Tiziana Mongini | Italy |
| Speaker | Fibromyalgia | Sara Lazo | El Salvador |
TC02: Teaching Course - Practical Approach to Myology Phenotypes
TC02: Teaching Course - Practical Approach to Myology Phenotypes
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 08:00-10:00
Description: This course will present differential diagnosis and practical approach to three conditions that physicians encounter in myology/neuromuscular clinics. Dysphagia is a relatively common complaint in various disorders and the participants will be presented with the various diagnostic modalities as well as potential management. Asymptomatic hyper CK’emia is a common situation in clinics and recently guidelines about the approach to it were published and will be presented. Winging of scapula (scapula alata) can be a manifestation of various neuromuscular conditions and may assist in the diagnosis of certain conditions.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Marianne de Visser | Netherland |
| Speaker | Dysphagia | Zohar Argov | Israel |
| Speaker | Asymptomatic hyper CK’emia | Antonio Toscano | Italy |
| Speaker | Scapula Alata (winging of scapula) | Marianne de Visser | Netherland |
TC03: Teaching Course - PNS/ICNMD JOINT TC - How to Diagnose and Treat a Patient with a Rare Neuropathy PART 1
TC03: Teaching Course - PNS/ICNMD JOINT TC - How to Diagnose and Treat a Patient with a Rare Neuropathy PART 1
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 08:00-10:00
Description: Rare neuropathies represent an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This joint PNS–ICNMD teaching course will provide an overview of the clinical approach to several rare neuropathies, including CIDP and nodo-paranodopathies, acute polyradiculoneuropathies such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, inherited neuropathies including Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, amyloid neuropathy, small fibre neuropathy and vasculitic neuropathies. Faculty will discuss key clinical features, diagnostic strategies and current treatment approaches, emphasizing practical algorithms useful in daily clinical practice. The course aims to improve recognition of rare neuropathies and guide clinicians in selecting appropriate diagnostic tests and disease-specific therapies.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Eduardo Nobile Orazio | Italy |
| Speaker | CIDP and autoimmune nodopathies | Marcus Vinicius Pinto | USA |
| Speaker | GBS - acute polyneuropathies | Eduardo Nobile Orazio | Italy |
| Speaker | CMT and related neuropathies | Chiara Pisciotta | Italy |
TC04: Teaching Course - The Floppy Infant - Myasthenic Disorders and Congenital Myopathies PART 1
TC04: Teaching Course - The Floppy Infant - Myasthenic Disorders and Congenital Myopathies PART 1
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 08:00-10:00
Description: Infantile hypotonia (or the “Floppy Infant Syndrome”) is one of the most common presentations in Paediatric Neurology and has a very wide differential diagnosis, including neuromuscular, neurological and other early-onset genetic and non-genetic disorders. This half day course will cover common causes of the Floppy Infant Syndrome and outline a state-of-the art diagnostic approach in the age of next generation sequencing. The congenital myasthenic syndromes and the congenital myopathies, two common but genetically diverse groups of early-onset neuromuscular disorders, are amongst the most common causes and will be outlined in detail. Clinical (including muscle imaging and neurophysiology), histopathological and genetic aspects of these conditions will be covered, complemented by an overview of current therapy developments. Illustrative scenarios will highlight practical applications in a clinical setting to consolidate taught knowledge.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Heinz Jungbluth | UK |
| Speaker | The floppy infant revisited – from bedside to genome | Gianpaolo Cicala | Italy |
| Speaker | The neuromuscular assessment of the floppy infant | Jennie Sheehan | UK |
| Speaker | Congenital myasthenic syndromes | Sithara Ramdas | UK |
TC05: Teaching Course - Hands On: Clinical Neurophysiology
TC05: Teaching Course - Hands On: Clinical Neurophysiology
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 08:00-10:00
Description: This demonstration and hands-on workshop include a discussion of the rationale and role of electrodiagnostic tools in the evaluation of patients presenting with weakness due to neuromuscular disorders. Participants will observe demonstrations and have the opportunity to practice frequently used techniques for the evaluation of the weak patient: Single Fiber EMG (SFEMG), routine needle examination, and repetitive stimulation of proximal motor nerves.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | William Litchy | USA |
| Speaker | SFEMG: the use in evaluation of Neuromuscular disorders | Anna Rostedt Punga | Sweden |
| Speaker | Standard Needle Examinaton | Rocco Ligouri | Italy |
| Speaker | Nerve Conducton Studies of Proximal Nerves (RNS) | William Litchy | USA |
7 July 2026 | 10:30-12:30
TC06: Teaching Course: Emergencies in Myopathies
TC06: Teaching Course: Emergencies in Myopathies
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 10:30-12:30
Description: This course will discuss three emergency conditions that need acute involvement of the neuromuscular physician. Rhabdomyolysis can be found in various inherited myopathies as well as in subjects with physiological over activity. The general approach to diagnosis and acute management as well as follow up will be discussed. Inflammatory and infectious myositis can manifest acutely. The participants will be presented with approach to rapid diagnostic as well as therapy under such circumstances. Modes of respiratory support (acute and chronic) will be discussed in the last talk.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | John Vissing | Denmark |
| Speaker | Acute inflammatory/infective myopathy | Mazen Dimachkie | USA |
| Speaker | Rhabdomyolysis | John Vissing | Denmark |
TC07: Teaching Course: Genetics in Neuromuscular Disorders
TC07: Teaching Course: Genetics in Neuromuscular Disorders
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 10:30-12:30
Description: This course intends to deliver advanced knowledge of the complicated genetic abnormalities in the NMD field. The various gene mutations associated with ALS will be presented and the importance of identification of mutations to the management and future therapy of this devastating condition. The new findings of genetic defects in oculo-pharyngo- distal myopathy (OPDM), showing that the same expansion mutation in several different genes result in OPDM and the possible disease mechanism will be presented. The complicated post transcriptional modification effect of the genetic defect in fascio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy will be described.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Ichizo Nishino | Japan |
| Speaker | The practicalities of motor neuron disease genetics | Vivian Drory | Israel |
| Speaker | OPDM- a model for unusual expanion disorders | Ichizo Nishino | Japan |
| Speaker | Translational changes- the FSHD complicated genetics | Sabrina Sacconi | France |
TC08: Teaching Course: PNS/ICNMD JOINT TC - How to Diagnose and Treat a Patient with a Rare Neuropathy PART 2
TC08: Teaching Course: PNS/ICNMD JOINT TC - How to Diagnose and Treat a Patient with a Rare Neuropathy PART 2
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 10:30-12:30
Description: Rare neuropathies represent an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This joint PNS–ICNMD teaching course will provide an overview of the clinical approach to several rare neuropathies, including CIDP and nodo-paranodopathies, acute polyradiculoneuropathies such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, inherited neuropathies including Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, amyloid neuropathy, small fibre neuropathy and vasculitic neuropathies. Faculty will discuss key clinical features, diagnostic strategies and current treatment approaches, emphasizing practical algorithms useful in daily clinical practice. The course aims to improve recognition of rare neuropathies and guide clinicians in selecting appropriate diagnostic tests and disease-specific therapies.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Giuseppe Lauria | Italy |
| Speaker | Amyloid neuropathy | Katrin Hahn | USA |
| Speaker | Small fibre neuropathy | Giuseppe Lauria | Italy |
| Speaker | Vasculitic neuropathies | Judith Spies | Australia |
TC09: Teaching Course: The Floppy Infant - Myasthenic Disorders and Congenital Myopathies PART 2
TC09: Teaching Course: The Floppy Infant - Myasthenic Disorders and Congenital Myopathies PART 2
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 10:30-12:30
Description: Infantile hypotonia (or the “Floppy Infant Syndrome”) is one of the most common presentations in Paediatric Neurology and has a very wide differential diagnosis, including neuromuscular, neurological and other early-onset genetic and non-genetic disorders. This half day course will cover common causes of the Floppy Infant Syndrome and outline a state-of-the art diagnostic approach in the age of next generation sequencing. The congenital myasthenic syndromes and the congenital myopathies, two common but genetically diverse groups of early-onset neuromuscular disorders, are amongst the most common causes and will be outlined in detail. Clinical (including muscle imaging and neurophysiology), histopathological and genetic aspects of these conditions will be covered, complemented by an overview of current therapy developments. Illustrative scenarios will highlight practical applications in a clinical setting to consolidate taught knowledge.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Heinz Jungbluth | UK |
| Speaker | Acquired mimics of CMS – TNG, FARIS and JMG | Ulrike Schara-Schmidt | Germany |
| Speaker | Congenital myopathies and related disorders – clinical features | Heinz Jungbluth | UK |
| Speaker | The congenital myopathies – histopathological features | Edoardo Malfatti | France |
| Speaker | Therapeutic developments and clinical trials in the congenital myopathies | Giovanni Baranello | UK |
TC10: Teaching Course: Myasthenia Gravis
TC10: Teaching Course: Myasthenia Gravis
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 10:30-12:30
Description: This is a more basic course about myasthenia gravis (MG). The various antibodies that are found in MG will be correlated with the resulting clinical syndrome and its therapy. The current immunosuppressive and immunomodulation therapies in MG will be overviewed. Pitfall in diagnosis of MG as well as mimics of immune mediated MG will be reviewed.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Pushpa Narrayanaswami | USA |
| Speaker | Antibodies in Myasthenia | Shahar Shelly | Israel |
| Speaker | Immune therapy of Myasthenia Gravis | Pushpa Narrayanaswami | USA |
| Speaker | Pitfalls in the Diagnosis | Amelia Evoli | Italy |
7 July 2026 | 13:30-15:30
TC11: Teaching Course: How to examine a patient with neuromuscular disorders: A Practical Guide
TC11: Teaching Course: How to examine a patient with neuromuscular disorders: A Practical Guide
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 13:30-15:30
Description: Accurate clinical examination remains the cornerstone of diagnosis in neuromuscular medicine. This teaching course will provide a practical approach to the neurological examination of patients with suspected neuromuscular disorders. Experts will review key clinical signs and examination strategies to differentiate between myopathies, polyneuropathies and disorders of the neuromuscular junction. Through practical guidance and illustrative examples, participants will learn how bedside examination can guide diagnostic reasoning and the selection of appropriate investigations. The course aims to strengthen fundamental clinical skills that remain essential even in the era of advanced genetic and molecular diagnostics.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Davide Pareyson | Italy |
| Speaker | How to examine a patient with a myopathy | Pascal Laforet | France |
| Speaker | How to examine a patient with a polyneuropathy | Davide Pareyson | Italy |
| Speaker | How to examine a patient with a neuromuscular junction disorder | Lorenzo Maggi | Italy |
TC12: Teaching Course: What a Biopsy can tell you in the Genomic Era
TC12: Teaching Course: What a Biopsy can tell you in the Genomic Era
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 13:30-15:30
Description: Despite major advances in genetic diagnostics, tissue biopsy remains an important tool in the evaluation of neuromuscular disorders. This teaching course will discuss the current role of muscle, nerve and skin biopsy in the era of genomic medicine. Faculty will illustrate how pathological findings can complement genetic testing, clarify uncertain diagnoses and provide insight into disease mechanisms. Particular emphasis will be placed on practical indications, interpretation of pathological findings and integration of biopsy results with clinical and molecular data.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | P. James B. Dyck | USA |
| Speaker | Muscle biopsy | Teresinha Evangelista | France |
| Speaker | Nerve biopsy | P. James B. Dyck | USA |
| Speaker | Skin biopsy | Vincenzo Donadio | Italy |
TC13: Teaching Course: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 2026: Clinical Practice, Biomarkers and Precision Medicine
TC13: Teaching Course: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 2026: Clinical Practice, Biomarkers and Precision Medicine
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 13:30-15:30
Description: TBC
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | ||
| Speaker | Practical diagnosis and clinical management of ALS | Markus Weber | Switzerland |
| Speaker | Biomarker in ALS: clinical utility and implementation | Thomas Meyer | Germany |
| Speaker | Emerging therapies and the future of ALS trials | Andrea Calvo | Italy |
TC14: Teaching Course: Inherited Myopathies - Less Common Disorders
TC14: Teaching Course: Inherited Myopathies - Less Common Disorders
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 13:30-15:30
Description: Dominant limb girdle dystrophies are less common compared with the recessive forms but their recognition has several important aspects. Distal myopathies is an entity that is missed initially by non myology experts and the approach to this syndrome will b discussed. Late onset mitochondrial disorders are under recognized as causes of fatigue and weakness and those will be presented.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Anthony Amato | USA |
| Speaker | Dominant LGMD | Anthony Amato | USA |
| Speaker | Distal Myopathies | Marco Savarese | Finland |
| Speaker | Late Onset Mitochondrial myopathies | Gabriele Siciliano | Italy |
HO01: Hands On: Ultrasound
HO01: Hands On: Ultrasound
Date: 7 July 2026
Time: 13:30-15:30
Description: Dominant limb girdle dystrophies are less common compared with the recessive forms but their recognition has several important aspects. Distal myopathies is an entity that is missed initially by non myology experts and the approach to this syndrome will b discussed. Late onset mitochondrial disorders are under recognized as causes of fatigue and weakness and those will be presented.
| Role | Topic | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Introductions | Stefan Meng | Austria |
| Speaker | Cranial nerves and Trunk | Stefan Meng | Austria |
| Speaker | Lower Extremities | Jan-Hendrik Stahl | Germany |