.:: AFM- Association Française contre les Myopathies

Created in 1958 by a group of patients and their families, and recognized as being of public utility in 1976, AFM (French Muscular Dystrophy Association) has a single objective : to defeat neuromuscular diseases which are devastating muscle-wasting diseases. It has set itself two missions: curing neuromuscular diseases and reducing the disabilities they cause.
To achieve these goals, AFM organises a Telethon on the first weekend in December, every year since 1987. This fund-raising operation, combining a 30-hour TV show and tens of thousands of local events across France, also aims to raise public awareness of neuromuscular diseases. The Telethon provides most of AFM's donations and operates as a important vehicle for information, communication and education.

.:: Biobank UK : Improving the Health of Future Generations

UK Biobank will be a unique resource for ethical research into genetic and environmental factors that impact on human health and disease, to improve the health of future generations.
UK Biobank is a long-term project aimed at building a comprehensive resource for medical researchers. The full project will get underway in 2006, when it will begin to gather information on the health and lifestyle of 500,000 volunteers aged between 40 and 69.

.:: BioCASE - Biological Collection Access Services

The Biological Collection Access Service for Europe, BioCASE, is a transnational network of biological collections of all kinds. BioCASE enables widespread unified access to distributed and heterogeneous European collection and observational databases using open-source, system-independent software and open data standards and protocols.

.:: CABRI - Common Access to Biological Resources and Information

CABRI stands for Common Access to Biotechnological Resources and Information - an online service where users can search a number of European Biological Resource Centre catalogues. The catalogues may be searched independently, or as one, and the located materials ordered online or by post.

.:: CORDIS - Community Research and Development Information Service

CORDIS is an information website dedicated to European research and development (R&D) and innovation activities. Its main goals are:
-To facilitate participation in European research and innovation activities;
-To improve exploitation of research results with an emphasis on sectors which are crucial to European competitiveness;
-To promote the diffusion of knowledge fostering the innovation performance of enterprises and the societal acceptance of new technology.

.:: CRB- French Consultative Committee on Biological Resources

This Committee is formed by representatives from research organisations as well as French ministries and public administrations involved in life sciences. Its purpose is to promote centres which can offer access to good quality biological resources.

.:: DGM- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Musklekranke e.V

The German Association for Muscular Diseases was created in 1965 to foster research on muscular diseases and fight against the impact of these diseases on the lives of patients. Today it provides information on therapies and treatment, social welfare, support for research, and leads advocacy activities on behalf of patients and their families.

.:: DSMZ - German Collections of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures

The DSMZ - Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures) is the most comprehensive Biological Resource Centre in Europe.
With more than 14 000 microorganisms, 900 plant viruses, 550 human and animal cell lines, 500 plant cell cultures and more than 6 300 cultures deposited for the purposes of patenting, we have demonstrated our obligation to serve science for decades. Since 2004, the DSMZ is certified by DIN EN ISO 9001-2000. The DSMZ is an independent, non-profit organisation.

.:: ECACC - European Collection of Cell Cultures

http://www.ecacc.org.uk/

A world leader in the supply of authenticated Cell Lines, ECACC further satisfies its customers needs by offering an extensive range of services. ECACC prides itself on the vast amount of scientific knowledge and experiences it has gained in all aspects of cell culture from cell banking and quality control to process development and large-scale culture. Catalogue, services, deposit, customer service, ordering info can be accessed on the ECACC website.

.:: ENMC - European Neuro Muscular Center

The ENMC is an international research support organization for neuromuscular disorders, and strives to facilitate communication amongst scientists and clinicians working in the area of neuromuscular disease.
The ENMC is a partner in the development of collaborative activities, it provides financial support for ENMC workshops and the Clinical Trial Network and offers organizational support from its offices in Baarn, The Netherlands and London, UK.
The ENMC facilitates top-level scientific collaboration with regard to several neuromuscular diseases including Spinal Muscular Atrophies, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Congenital Muscular Dystrophies, CIDP and many others.

.:: ESHG - European Society of Human Genetics

ESHG is an international professional society founded in 1967 which
- promotes research in basic and applied human and medical genetics
- facilitates contact between all persons who share these aims
The Society offers the possibility of meeting and collaborating with colleagues throughout Europe.
It is especially interested in encouraging young scientists and clinicians, and in the transfer of technology and provision of genetic services for the developing European countries.

.:: Eurordis - European Organisation for Rare Diseases

EURORDIS is a non-governmental patient-driven alliance of patient organisations and individuals active in the field of rare diseases, dedicated to improving the quality of life of all people living with rare diseases in Europe. It was founded in 1997; it is supported by its members and by the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM), the European Commission, corporate foundations and the health industry.
EURORDIS represents more than 260 rare disease organisations in over 30 different countries, covering more than 1,000 rare diseases. It is therefore the voice of the 30 million patients affected by rare diseases throughout Europe.
EURORDIS is a not-for-profit organisation with a stringent financial transparency policy and good governance practices.

.:: ISBER- International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories

The primary goal of the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, ISBER, is to provide information and guidance on the safe and effective management of specimen collections. ISBER was founded in 2000 as an educational forum for discussion of repository management and dissemination of information on operational issues.

.:: LGC Promochem

LGC Promochem's partnership with ATCC facilitates the distribution of ATCC cultures and bioproducts to life science researchers throughout Europe. Their specific aim is to ensure the very highest levels of customer service and LGC Promochem has invested significantly in material and human resources at its Laboratory in South West London.

.:: MD-Net- German Muscular Dystrophy Network

The MD-NET primarily wants to study pathogenic, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches in muscular dystrophies. To realize these goals investigators with diverse scientific interests will apply their expertise to basic, applied, and clinical research to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of the muscular dystrophies.

.:: OBBR -Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research
National Cancer Institute

The NCI Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR) was established in 2005 in recognition of the critical role that biospecimens play in cancer research. The OBBR will be responsible for developing a common biorepository infrastructure that promotes resource sharing and team science, in order to facilitate multi-institutional, high throughput genomic and proteomic studies. Carolyn Compton, M.D., Ph.D., serves as the Director of the OBBR.

.:: OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The OECD's report "Biological Resource Centers: Underpinning the Future of Life Sciences and Biotechnology" examines how to respond to the challenges facing the global biobanking community. It proposes to establish a "Global BRC Network" based on scientifically acceptable, objective international criteria. This agreement was pioneered by a Task Force led by Japan. The implementation of the agreement is entrusted to a Task Force led by France.

.:: Orphanet

ORPHANET is a database dedicated to information on rare diseases and orphan drugs available in 6 languages (English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish). Access to this database is free of charge.
ORPHANET aims to improve management and treatment of genetic, auto-immune or infectious rare diseases, rare cancers, or not yet classified rare diseases.
ORPHANET offers services adapted to the needs of patients and their families, health professionals and researchers, support groups and industry.

.:: The National Resource Center : The Genetics Division of NDRI

HBDI - A Resource for Genetic Research - Diabetes types I and II, Thyroid Disease and Autoimmune Disorders
The Human Biological Data Interchange (HBDI), a program of the non-profit National Disease Research Interchange, was founded in 1988. HBDI's goal is to offer a resource that facilitates research into the genetics of diabetes.

.:: WHO - World Health Organisation

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.