MAGIC

Image of a person presenting at a conference with the text "conference insights, lay summaries now available"

We’re adding lay summaries of recent MAGIC conference presentations to our website to make our work more accessible to the neuromuscular community.

These short overviews share the key ideas, aims and insights behind the science across the network.

Check them out: magic-horizon.eu/project-reso...

Text which says "Scaling AAV Manufacturing for Neuromuscular Gene Therapy" alongside an image on an AAV

AAV gene therapies can only progress if we can manufacture high‑quality vectors at scale.

MAGIC and DINAMIQS have been working to make AAV production more robust and development‑ready, helping ensure emerging neuromuscular therapies have a practical path toward the clinic.

#GeneTherapy #AAV

Rare disease day with the MAGIC team. Images of several MAGIC members who shared their thoughts

For #RareDiseaseDay we're highlighting the importance of equity in rare disease research and care.

MAGIC partners have shared what motivates their work and how they hope to help create a fairer future.

Read their words here: magic-horizon.eu/news/rare-di...

Crowd of people from the JP Morgan conference sat outside

This year's JP Morgan Conference highlighted a growing focus on smart manufacturing choices in CGT.

MAGIC members DiNAMIQS met with teams to discuss how strong science can be turned into scalable therapies—supporting MAGIC’s mission to advance treatments for rare neuromuscular conditions.

🧬 The past year has seen huge progress across MAGIC — from refining 3D muscle constructs to expanding engineered tissue and multi‑organoid platforms.

These advances are giving us more predictive ex vivo models and helping accelerate the path toward next‑gen gene therapies.

#MAGICProject

Great to see the MAGIC consortium highlighted in UCL’s story on accelerating therapies for rare neuromuscular disorders.

Collaboration across Europe is essential to driving the breakthroughs patients need. 🌍✨

#MAGICconsortium #RareDisease #NeuromuscularResearch

Person stood in front of a screen presenting about AAV vectors and the MAGIC project

Earlier this month, MAGIC members took part in the ESGCT Academy.

PhD students presented projects linked to MAGIC and received feedback and career advice.

The event also showed the depth of our expertise, with speakers supporting the next generation of researchers.

#genetherapy #research

Map of the world with pins where MAGIC is located - America, UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and more

Where is MAGIC? Across Europe and beyond.

Our consortium spans 10 countries, connecting leading institutions to tackle neuromuscular research challenges together.

🔗 magic-horizon.eu

#MAGICProject #ResearchCollaboration #NeuromuscularResearch

ICYMI: What’s next for neuromuscular treatment development?

MAGIC Project joined Muscular Dystrophy UK's Muscles Matter podcast to discuss SMA gene therapies, AI, and the future of collaborative research.

🎧 Listen: bit.ly/4aJpPodcast

#MAGICProject #GeneTherapy #Podcast

2026 written with a DNA strand coming out the 0

🎆 Happy New Year from the MAGIC Project! 🎆

In 2026, we’ll keep pushing boundaries in neuromuscular research:

✅ Better disease models
✅ Gene therapy innovation
✅ Stronger networks for translation

Learn more: magic-horizon.eu

#MAGICProject #HappyNewYear

Muscular Dystrophy UK podcast: Muscles Matter - Muscular Dystrophy UK This series is informed by insights from our community about what you want to listen to – themes that span from health and wellbeing, the latest research, tips and advice on day to day living with a m...

Recent advances have changed the landscape, but what’s next for neuromuscular treatment development?

MAGIC joins Muscular Dystrophy UK's Muscles Matter podcast to discuss progress, research priorities & the role of AI.

🎧 Listen: www.musculardystrophyuk.org/support/serv...

Explaining gene therapy isn’t easy – but it’s essential.

Francesco Saverio Tedesco from the MAGIC project shares a clear way to make it understandable for patients.

Learn more about MAGIC’s patient-centred approach: magic-horizon.eu/about/object...

#GeneTherapy #MAGICHorizon

Image of a phone with the MAGIC newsletter on it, surrounded by notebooks and coffee cup

Missed our latest newsletter? It was a BIG one including conference highlights, progress and our general assembly!

Stay in the loop:

🔗 Sign up today ➡️ magic-horizon.eu/news-events/newsletter

A laptop with notebooks next to the MAGIC, EU horizon, UKRI and SERI logos

🔬 Curious about the latest progress in gene therapy for muscular dystrophies?

The #MAGICproject is publishing impactful research, scientific tools & resources for the wider community.

🧬 Explore open-access papers, abstracts, and key findings here:

👉 magic-horizon.eu

Group of people from the MAGIC project standing on stairs.

Last month, MAGIC partners met in Lisbon for our annual General Assembly at GIMM.

Discussions focused on:
• Improving AAV delivery for gene therapy
• Gene editing beyond mutation correction
• 3D muscle models to accelerate testing

Read more: magic-horizon.eu/news/magic-g...

✨ What is MAGIC and why does it matter for gene therapy?

PI
@SaverioTedesco
shares how this multi-partner project tackles key challenges in rare neuromuscular conditions – building building tools for safer, more effective treatments.

🎥 Watch below

#GeneTherapy #RareDisease

A panel of people discussing the future of gene therapy in front of a crowd of people sitting down.

What’s next for gene therapy?

Our workshop brought researchers together for a Q&A with MAGIC experts Eduard Ayuso, David-Alexandre Gross, Gabriela Silve & Odile Boespflug-Tanguy.

From delivery challenges to emerging tech, the future looks bold.

#GeneTherapy

Group of people sat in front of two people presenting, with a screen in the background which says "why are we here?"

🚨 MAGIC Project General Assembly! 🚨

Consortium partners are gathering to:

✅ Share progress
✅ Strengthen collaboration
✅ Align on next steps

We’re driving innovation in neuromuscular disease & gene therapy – and building momentum for the year ahead. 🚀

#ResearchProgress

Person standing up in front of a podium speaking to a group of people sat down.

Proud to host today’s MAGIC Project workshop in Lisbon, where experts are discussing:

🔬Muscle on a Chip
🧬Gene Editing
💉Viral Transduction
🧫Vector Production

We're sharing knowledge with the wider research community to accelerate progress in #genetherapy.

Images of 3 different presenters standing in front of their posters at ESGCT 2025

🔬 Earlier this month at #ESGCT2025, MAGIC partners
@crick.ac.uk
shared 3 posters on human models for neuromuscular gene therapy:

🧪 3D cultures for DMD
🧠 AAV dynamics in multi-organoids
🧬 Myotubular myopathy modelling

Pushing boundaries in patient-relevant research.

#genetherapy #MagicProject

Marco Wachowius from DINAMIQS stands in front of the poster titled "Single-Particle Analysis of AAV Vectors by Mass Photometry: Insights into Packaging Efficiency and Stability"

🔬 MAGIC at #ESGCT2025!

DINAMIQS shared how mass photometry boosts AAV packaging efficiency & stability.

📌 >95% full capsids = better stress resilience.
🚀 Fast, label-free AAV quality checks = smarter upstream optimisation.

#MAGICProject #GeneTherapy #AAV

Image of Francesco Saverio Tedesco in front of a crowd with a slide showing the MAGIC team

Great to see Francesco Saverio Tedesco presenting the latest results from the MAGIC project at #WMS2025 in Vienna this morning.

Fantastic to see this international collaboration represented on the global stage 🌍🧬

#genetherapy #3Dmusclemodels

Oral presentation at WMS:

📅 Friday, 10th October
🕙 10:00 –10:15 AM

Francesco Saverio Tedesco – Towards a human multi-organoid platform to develop and assess specificity, toxicity and efficacy of neuromuscular gene therapies

Poster at ESGCT:
🔹P0373: Leah Zelin – Modelling X-linked myotubular myopathy in advanced human in vitro models for next-generation genetic therapies

Poster at ESGCT:
🔹P0010: Sumitava Dastidar – Assessing spatio-temporal dynamics of AAV transduction and therapeutic efficacy f or neuromuscular disorders in a human multi-organoid system

Poster at ESGCT:
🔹P0287: Mariam Zouhair – Developing novel human 3D culture platforms for disease and gene therapy modelling in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Check out MAGIC presentations! WMS 10:00 - 10:15 10 October Francesco Saverio Tedseco Towards a human multi-organoid platform to develop and assess specificity, toxicity and efficacy of neuromuscular gene therapies Posters at ESGCT P0287 - Mariam Zhouhair P0010 - Sumitava Dastidar P0373 - Leah Zerlin

Are you attending #WMS2025 or #ESGCT2025 this week? 🔬

Make sure you check out the presentations from MAGIC members to learn more about the project and how we’re aiming to accelerate the development of gene therapies for rare neuromuscular conditions.

🧵⬇️

Image of Vienna and Seville with the test overlayed: MAGIC is attending WMS and ESGCT next week.

Headed to #WMS2025 or #ESGCT2025 next week? 🧬✈️

Members from MAGIC will be attending both – keep an eye out for posters and presentations to learn more about the project.

We’re looking forward to connecting with researchers, clinicians, and collaborators across both events! 🤝

Image of a person holding a pipette, next to text which says: "Can one platform capture the complexity of multiple neuromuscular conditions? Scalable and reproducible 3D muscle models."

In the MAGIC project, we’re building modular 3D muscle models for conditions like FSHD, Duchenne & congenital myopathies.

🧬 Tailored cell sources
🧱 Custom matrix design
📊 Relevant functional readouts

All within a scalable, reproducible platform.

🔗 magic-horizon.eu

Two scientists in the lab looking at a computer

Rare neuromuscular diseases demand global collaboration. 🌍

The MAGIC project unites researchers worldwide to advance next-gen genetic therapies.

Our project leaflets, now in 6 languages, outline our goals and translational potential.

📄 Download: magic-horizon.eu/media/leafle...

#RareDisease