Abstract
The 21st Annual Meeting of the Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), held in Assisi, Italy, from September 4-7, 2024, gathered 123 experts, including basic and clinical myologists, pharmaceutical representatives, and patient organizations from Italy, Europe, Canada, and USA. The meeting fostered a proactive, collaborative and dynamic atmosphere, promoting scientific exchange and international partnerships focused on muscle research, from physiology to disease mechanisms, and eventually therapeutic approaches. The 21st IIM Meeting featured 6 main scientific sessions, showcasing 30 oral presentations and 45 always-on-display posters, all reporting original and unpublished research. The program was enriched by four keynote lectures from internationally renowned speakers and talks from delegates of the Société Française de Myologie, adding depth to the scientific discussions. As part of the IIM Meeting organization, this year there was also a free-access educational convention titled "Physical exercise as prevention". Leading IIM experts shared insights on exercise-based lifestyle interventions aimed at improving public health, with the participation of the Italian former boxer Roberto Cammarelle. The event drew a large in-person and online audience. This IIM Meeting edition strongly emphasized the involvement and growth of young researchers, with 50% of the attendees being <35, reinforcing IIM's commitment to fostering the next generation of myologists. Along this line, and to further support young researchers, awards for Best Talk, Best Poster Blitz, and Best Poster were presented. The winners joined the IIM Young Committee, contributing to the scientific organization of future IIM meetings together with the IIM Scientific Committee. The meeting was also integrated into the "Advanced Myology Update 2024" high-training course, organized by the University of Perugia in collaboration with IIM. The 11 trainees enrolled in the course participated in dedicated roundtables and exclusive lessons led by IIM's invited speakers. In this report are included the abstracts of both oral and poster presentations, with some being withheld for patent-related reasons. Through its annual congress and educational initiatives, IIM played a crucial role in shaping the future of myology research, fostering innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence on an international scale. We invite you to save the date for the 22nd IIM meeting that will be held in the beautiful Assisi, September 11-14, 2025. We can't wait to welcome you!