Highlights of the 17th Euro-Latin-American Summer School of Myology (EVELAM) in Urubamba, Cusco, Peru.
“Myology in the Sacred Valley of the Incas”
From November 26th to 30th more than 240 professionals interested in myology gathered at the Vidawasi Cultural Center https://www.vidawasiperu.org/# to attend the 17th version of the Euro-Latin American Summer School of Myology, EVELAM 2024 (https://evelam.org), where 25 European and Latin American experts in neuromuscular disorders gathered with 240 attendees, to share and exchange their experience. Although most of the audience Peruvians (60%), 14 other Latin American countries were represented, along with the participation of speakers from Canada, Spain, France, Italy and United Kingdom. As it is currently usual, EVELAM was held in a hybrid format, 66 out of 240 participants attended the school virtually.
This year, EVELAM 2024 took place in the city of Urubamba, Perú, in the center of Inca’s Sacred Valley, surrounded of an impressive Andean countryside full of archaeological centers and pre-Columbian constructions, and an incredible variety of flavors that the welcoming locals combine in an unmatched way, simply amazing and unforgettable.
The scientific program covered, as usual, basic and applied aspects of myology and neuromuscular diseases. This year, in addition to the EVELAM’s usual programme three workshops were held. One on electrophysiology of the neuromuscular junction, led by Dr. Marcelo Rugiero; a workshop on physiotherapy and motor assessment scales, led by expert physiotherapists Cecilia Hervias and José Corderí; as well as an interactive workshop on the interpretation of genetic tests, under the tutelage of Drs. Cristiane Moreno and Eduardo Tizzano. Colleagues from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Uruguay presented real world data on the implementation of high-cost disease-modifying therapies for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in their respective countries, followed by an open debate.
The efforts of the local organizing committee wonderfully leaded by Dr. Peggy Martínez, Dr. Iván Dueñas and the Peruvian Society of Neurology (https://www.spneurologia.org.pe/) did a magnificent job, breakfasts and lunches were guaranteed for all participants, delegates and speakers, and even more, the welcome cocktail with a demonstration of typical Peruvian music and dances, where experts and students participated in a fraternal environment as its usual in EVELAM, left noone indifferent.
Many thanks to the supporters that make this EVELAM possible AFM-Téléthon, PTC Therapeutics, Roche, Astra Zéneca, Biogen, Novartis, Endomed, Perú; Italfarmaco, Perú, Sthendal and Vidawasi Peru, as well as the scientific endorsement from Treat NMD and the World Muscle Society (WMS).
The next EVELAM is scheduled in San José, Costa Rica at the beginning of December 2025. Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen!!!! More Information will be available soon at www.evelam.or