New Funding for Motor Neurone Disease Research
DEPARTMENT FOR INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS News Release (221107MND) issued by The Government News Network on 22 November 2007 Research into finding new treatments and cures for motor neurone disease will receive a £7.5m boost, Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson will announce today. At a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association reception in London tonight, to be attended by the physicist Stephen Hawking, the Minister will confirm that the Government - through the Medical Research Council (MRC) - will fund at least £7.5m in high-quality research awards over the next five years. Scientists will be asked to put forward research proposals to compete for the funding. The money would match, but is not limited to, the £7.5m the MND Association is raising from private donors. Mr Pearson said: "I applaud the MND Association's ambition and hard work in raising vital funds to drive research into finding innovative treatments and cures for this disease. "Motor neurone disease is a rapidly progressive and fatal disease that affects around 5,000 people in the UK. At present there is no cure. However, the Government is committed to supporting the MND Association to advance our knowledge and treatment of the disease. "Medical research in the UK benefits tremendously from the support of charities such as the MND Association. Working together, Government, research councils and charities can maximise the impact of money spent on research for the benefit for all of us. " The money will be spent on both training and research relating to motor neurone disease. The awards are open to competition and only research proposals of high quality will be funded. The MRC is already working with the MND Association to increase capacity in motor neurone disease research by joint funding of a research fellowships programme - the Lady Edith Wolfson Clinical Research Fellowships. They will cover three stages in clinical research training: junior clinical research training fellowships; intermediate clinician scientist fellowships; and senior clinical fellowships. Today's announcement builds on this important work and is additional to it. Dr Kirstine Knox, Chief Executive of the MND Association, said: "Our vision is a world free of motor neurone disease and this can only be achieved if the highest level of research can be sponsored and sustained. We are delighted that the Government wants to play a unique role in helping to eradicate this terrible disease and we are looking forward to developing what we hope will be a ground-breaking partnership with the MRC." Notes to editors: 1. Motor neurone disease is the name given to a group of related diseases affecting the motor neurones (nerve cells) in the brain and spinal cord. As the motor neurones gradually die, the muscles stop working. 2. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. 3. In the UK at least five people a day die from motor neurone disease. Life expectancy for most people with the disease is just two to five years, and around half die within 14 months of prognosis. 4. For more information, contact Rhys Stacker in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) press office on 020 215 6214, or Louise Coxon, Communications Manager, Motor Neurone Disease Association on 01604 611 843. Public enquiries: DIUS enquiries line 020 7215 5555.
Source: Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

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