Chief scientific officer, CMT Research Foundation

Keith Fargo, PhD

“There are resources available for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). So, if you as a physician have a patient you suspect may have CMT, there are genetic tests available. There are centers of excellence available. You can reach out to us at the CMT Research Foundation and we can help you with some of those resources. You can find us at CMTRF.org, and especially for the physician scientists who are watching today, we have dollars to support your research.”

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a rare genetic disease comprising a collection of hereditary peripheral neuropathies. Those with the different types of CMT experience a gradual weakening of their sensory and motor muscles and no disease-modifying therapies exist today for CMT.

The CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF)’s mission is to support research that may lead to cures. The CMTRF funds a number of promising projects and research in CMT, many of which are taking cell or gene therapy approaches.

spoke with Keith Fargo, PhD, chief scientific officer, CMTRF, to learn more about the CMTRF’s funded projects in the cell and gene therapy fields. He discussed promising work and partnerships, as well as resources available to those with CMT.

Videos

The chief scientific officer of the CMT Research Foundation discussed investigative cell and gene therapy approaches for treating CMT. 

Keith Fargo, PhD, on Potential Treatment Avenues for Charcot-Marie-Tooth 

“People lose the ability to walk correctly, they begin to fall quite a bit. And then sometimes they lose the use of their hands as well. Braces can really help with keeping people able to do their activities of daily living and everyday tasks. But as of yet, there's really nothing that provides an effective treatment or a cure. And that's what the research foundation is here to provide.”

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a rare genetic disease for which no disease-modifying therapies exist today. CMT is a collection of hereditary peripheral neuropathies and those with the different types of CMT experience a gradual weakening of their sensory and motor muscles.

The CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF) was founded to support research that may lead to cures. The CMTRF funds a number of promising projects and research in CMT, many of which are taking cell or gene therapy approaches.

CGTLivespoke with Keith Fargo, PhD, chief scientific officer, CMTRF, to learn more about the CMTRF’s goals and mission. He discussed CMT and its disease burden on patients as well as the unmet needs in the disease.

The chief scientific officer of the CMT Research Foundation discussed the foundation’s mission. 

Keith Fargo, PhD

Articles

Keith Fargo, PhD, on Potential Treatment Avenues for Charcot-Marie-Tooth

Working to Find a Cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Keith Fargo, PhD