More about Genetic Diseases

There are about 7000 different genetics diseases. Since it came into being, Imagine has proved its unique capabilities to accelerate innovation, both in diagnosis and treatment.

Achondroplasia: another step forward in treatment

Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism. It affects about one in 20,000 births. The main feature of this disease is a much smaller than average height, associated with a shortening of the limbs.

Laurence Legeai-Mallet

Today, several new molecules, some of which emanate directly from research on deregulated mechanisms in achondroplasia conducted at the Imagine Institute by Laurence Legeai Mallet and her team, are in clinical trials around the world.

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Autisme : le point sur les troubles du spectre de l'autisme

L’autisme représente une multitude de troubles du neuro-développement distincts, désormais regroupés sous le terme de troubles du spectre de l'autisme, eux-mêmes classés dans les troubles envahissants du développement.

Consultation Arnold Munnich
Consultation Arnold Munnich © Laurent Attias

This major communication disorder, which affects 700,000 people in France, can take different forms without necessarily being associated with an intellectual deficit. Since the mid-1990s, research on ASD has developed, clearly establishing that the mechanisms involved are varied, ranging from a single genetic mutation, to combinations of common genetic variants with rarer variants, and even to much more complex interactions between genetics and environment.

 

 

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An update on research on epilepsies

Epilepsy affects more than 500,000 people in France; half of these cases start in childhood. Prof. Rima Nabbout, pediatric neurologist at Necker-Enfants malades hospital AP-HP, head of the rare epilepsies Reference Center for Rare Diseases and coordinator of the research project around this pathology at Imagine Institute, reviews the latest advances.

Rare epilepsies in children are often accompanied by behavioral problems, psychiatric disorders, and cognitive and social disorders.” To date, there is no cure. The treatment mainly consists of controlling the seizures and associated problems, but the group of rare epilepsies presents high levels of resistance to any type of treatment.

Equipe Edor Kabashi et Rima Nabout
Equipe Edor Kabashi et Rima Nabout © Laurent Attias

 

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Everything to know about celiac disease and its complications

Gluten
© DR

Celiac disease affects 1% of the population. The only treatment for it is a strict gluten free diet. It cures symptoms and protects from complications, in particular osteoporosis, infertility, autoimmune diseases and malignancies.

 

 

 

 

 

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Better understanding hereditary eye diseases

During the last thirty years, discoveries of hereditary eye diseases have multiplied thanks to the work of Jean-Michel Rozet at Imagine. They highlight the extraordinary genetic heterogeneity of the great majority of these diseases.

Jean-Michel Rozet
Jean-Michel Rozet © Laurent Attias

Jean-Michel Rozet studies congenital eye malformations, and degenerative disorders of the optic nerve and the photosensitive retina, for which treatment is in the very early stages at best, most often nonexistent.

 

 

 

 

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Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

This rare genetic disease is characterized by an exaggerated and altered response of the immune system. The T-cells, whose role is to kill cells infected by a virus, no longer perform this defense function properly, causing persistent fever, fatigue and irritability, accompanied by an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, and sometimes neurological or digestive disorders.

 

Geneviève de Saint-Basile
Geneviève de Saint-Basile © Laurent Attias

In patients with Familial Lymphohistiocytosis, when a virus enters the body, the T-cells that are responsible for killing virus-infected cells no longer perform this defense function properly, causing persistent fever, fatigue and irritability, accompanied by enlargement of the liver and spleen, and sometimes neurological disorders.

 

 

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Nadine Cerf-Bensussan
Nadine Cerf-Bensussan © Laurent Attias

Dr. Nadine Cerf-Bensussan, director of the Intestinal Immunity Laboratory at the Imagine Institute, and Dr. Grégoire Michaux, director of research at the Institute of Genetics and Development in Rennes (CNRS), discuss research on the STXBP2 gene mutation which, by altering the functioning of the Munc-18-2 protein, leads to associated digestive symptoms.

 

 

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Diabète rare monogénique de l'enfant

 

Activite de laboratoire
Activité de laboratoire © Laurent Attias

 

Advances in genetics are improving the diagnostic approach and the management of this diabetes that affects young children. New treatments are being tested in clinical trials and, for the first time, these treatments, without the use of insulin, do not cause hypoglycemia. This is an avenue that is being closely followed by these specialists in childhood diabetes.

 

 

 

 

 

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Genetic deafness: an update on these pathologies, research and care

Deafness is the most common sensory deficit. It affects an average of 1 in 1,000 children at birth and 1 in 700 children before adulthood, as well as a significant percentage of the adult population.

Schéma de l'oreille
Schéma de l’oreille © Filière SensGène

 

It is estimated today that 80% of early-onset deafness is genetic in origin, with more than 120 genetic forms of deafness already identified and nearly 500 syndromes including deafness already described. Several teams at the Imagine Institute and on the campus of the Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades AP-HP are specialized in these deafnesses to better understand and manage them.

 

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papier paint

Cure genetic diseases can not be made without you

This wallpaper depicts Jeremy's impaired cells, with nephronophthisis, a serious genetic disorder that causes irreversible kidney failure. This disease takes a lot of place in the life of Jeremiah and his family.

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