The 3 expert centres

The course content has been designed and written by multidisciplinary teams of hospital specialists from different professional backgrounds at the three expert centres, who are involved in the day-to-day treatment of their respective patients:

The Autism Resource Centre (CRA)

The Autism Resource Centre (CRA) part of the Paediatric Psychiatry Department of Lenval Hospital, under the direction of Professor Florence Askenazy. It is aimed at children under the age of 6 with neurodevelopmental disorders and at the parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Patients under the care of this centre are those on the neurodevelopmental disorder pathway. The Autism Resource Centre for the PACA region (Alpes de Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhône, Var et Vaucluse) offers support to those who need help with the assessment process and the early detection of autism and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). It also offers awareness-raising and training. The CRA offers services to families, professionals (whether in practice or in training) in the healthcare, social care and education sectors and institutions and organisations. The CRA’s main remit includes:

Services and advice for individuals and their families
Support in carrying out reviews and in-depth assessments
Compiling information for professionals and families
Training and advice for professionals

The Nice Satellite of CRA PACA supports autistic residents of Alpes Maritimes (06), the Eastern Var (83) and Alpes de Haute Provence (04) and their families, from infancy to through to adolescence.

Training, information and awareness-raising remit :

The Nice Satellite of CRA PACA organises:

Conferences with outside speakers
CRA training sessions aimed at parents and family caregivers
Interventions aimed at and requested by professionals or institutions (health, social care, schools, Departmental Disability Support Centres etc.)

The Nice Satellite of the CRA PACA also attends national and international conventions and conferences.

Research:

CRA is involved in a number of research projects including:

A pilot scheme aimed at reducing inequality in access to early assessment and facilities for babies at risk of autism.
- Status: concluded (2014-2016)
- Funded by: PACA Regional Health Authority (ARS PACA)
- Partners: The Nice Satellite of CRA PACA (Leader).
- The aim of this project is to promote the early detection (12 to 24 months) of autism spectrum disorder and to facilitate early support for the child and the family with a rapid implementation of targeted interventions for families who do not have access to existing schemes due to their socio-economic circumstances or geographical isolation from the main centres offering support and information on young children.
ACTIVIS : Automated video analysis of movement in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Status: ongoing (2020-2024)
- Funded by: National Agency for Research (ANR)
- Partners: LIS: Laboratoire d’Informatique et Systèmes (I.T. And Systems Laboratory) (Lead), Laboratory CoBTeK EA7276 Côte d’Azur University, INRIA – STARS team, Nice Satellite of CRA PACA, Nively
JEMImE – Multimodal Emotional Imitation Educational Game for children with pervasive development disorders.
- Status: concluded (2013-2017)
- Funded by: National Agency for Research (ANR)
- Partners: ISIR: Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (Institute of Smart Systems and Robotics) (Lead), ECL-LIRIS: Ecole Centrale Lyon – Laboratoire d’InfoRmatique en Image et Systèmes d’information (Imaging and Information Systems IT Laboratory), CoBTek EA 7276 Unice: Cognition – Behaviour – technology (Nice Satellite of CRA PACA), Idées-3com

More information: https://lenval.org/centre-ressources-autisme/

The Memory Resource and Research Centre (CMRR)

Memory Research and Resource Centre (CMRR)

The Memory Research and Resource Centre (CMRR), directed by Prof. Philippe ROBERT and Dr Guillaume SACCO. The patients followed by this centre are mainly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and belong to the neurodegenerative pathway. The Memory Resource and Research Centres (CMRR) are part of the action programme for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or related pathologies. The care offered includes consultations and day hospitalisations for diagnosis, follow-up and management (drug and non-drug treatments) as well as participation in therapeutic trials on new treatments. The main missions of the CMRR are:

Care

Screening for cognitive and memory disorders is the main activity of the CMRR, but consultations may also concern cases of Down’s syndrome, concussions caused by contact sports, expertise on rare neurodegenerative diseases, etc. Nowadays, memory and behavioural disorders can be assessed objectively by means of clinical examination, neuropsychological tests, biological examinations and brain imaging. These assessments often lead to the prescription of a more appropriate treatment.

Objectives

Consultations can have several objectives:

To provide an initial contact and brief assessment of memory and behavioural problems
To explain the results of the assessments
Prescribe or renew medication or non-medication treatment
Propose participation in a research protocol

The Nice Memory Centre offers four types of consultations:

Single consultation: This is a consultation carried out by a specialist for memory disorders or other cognitive disorders or behavioural disorders.
Multidisciplinary consultation: This is a consultation involving several people, including a specialist doctor and a neuropsychologist who carries out a brief evaluation of cognitive functions.
Neuropsychological assessment: The assessment is carried out individually by a neuropsychologist.
Day hospital: In addition to the multidisciplinary consultation, the day hospital includes a complementary assessment (biology, imaging, in-depth evaluation of cognitive functions) and a clinical synthesis.

In order to help patients and carers, the CMRR sets up various workshops:

Singing workshop
Meditation workshop
Caregivers’ discussion group
Adapted physical activity
Individual and group cognitive stimulation
ETP (therapeutic education for patients)
Psychological support

More information: https://www.cmrr-nice.fr/

Reference Centre for Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (CRMR)

Centre for Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (CRMR)

The Reference Centre for Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (CRMR), directed by Prof. Sabrina SACCONI. The patients followed by this centre suffer from chronic neuromuscular pathologies (myasthenias, myopathies, neuropathies) and belong to the neuromuscular pathway. The CRMR is recognised for its expertise in the diagnosis and specific follow-up of patients suffering from these rare diseases. With an active file of more than 2000 patients, the Nice CRMR stands out at national and international level by its importance and influence. Its main objectives are:

To improve the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases
To support the announcement of the diagnosis
To ensure the therapeutic management and follow-up of these diseases
Coordinate the actions of caregivers to optimise care
To include our actions in a national approach
Participate in clinical and fundamental research

VILLA, Dr. M. CAVALLI as well as doctors from other specialities (algologists, rehabilitation doctors, geneticists and ophthalmologists…), who regularly participate in the multidisciplinary care. In addition to medical care, there is also paramedical and medico-social care. Psychologists, neuropsychologists, dieticians, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists take part in consultations and in the development of personalised care that meets the needs of the patient and their carers. To ensure optimal follow-up, the centre has a care organisation including outpatient consultations, multidisciplinary consultations, a day hospital, a week hospital, a functional exploration sector and technical blocks. A significant clinical and industrial research activity as well as a teaching activity are also developed within the CRMN. The centre has recently joined the EURO-NMD network as a European centre of excellence.

For more information, please visit: https://www.systeme-nerveux-peripherique-muscle.chu-nice.fr/le-centre-de-reference-des-maladies-neuromusculaires-crmn-de-nice-cote-dazur/