Francis Hitchens MD

Francesco Muntoni, MD a clinical paediatric neurologist with an interest in molecular aspects of neuromuscular disorders. I joined the Neuromuscular Unit at the Hammersmith in 1993, and became the Head of the Unit in 1996.

From a clinical perspective, this Neuromuscular Unit, named after Professor Victor Dubowitz, is the largest Paediatric Neuromuscular Unit in UK; it is recognised by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (the largest charity in this field); since 2001 the Unite was designated as a National reference centre by the Department of Health (NSCAG) for the work on clinical, pathological and genetic aspects related to congenital muscular dystrophies and myopathies. The Unit has its own diagnostic pathology laboratories, of which I am also responsible.

Regarding my contribution to research, an early original contributions was the discovery that the X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDCM) is secondary to a dystrophin gene abnormality (the same gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy)