The SMA NBS Alliance is proud to present François Boemer‘s latest article presenting the last 3 years of work: the implementation of neonatal screening for spinal muscular atrophy in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation! Or how a pilot project becomes an official programme. Congratulations and a big thank you to all the researchers and clinicians in Belgium who helped make newborn screening for SMA a reality in Southern Belgium!

• The European Alliance for Newborn Screening in Spinal Muscular Atrophy calls upon the government of Europe to include a test for spinal muscular atrophy in national newborn screening programmes.
• Worldwide newborn screening projects and programmes for SMA clearly demonstrate that early detection and treatment of SMA prevents an early death or a life with a severe disability.
• As some European countries take the lead, the Alliance calls that by 2025, all children born in Europe are screened for SMA at birth and are able to access immediate treatment.

The Belgian pilot programme for newborn screening in SMA is called Sun May Arise on SMA. Sun May Arise on SMA offers a 3-year neonatal screening programme in Wallonia, Belgium, and is currently in its final year.