MND RESEARCH RECEIVES £7.5 MILLION GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Last night (22 November) the Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson MP announced that MND research will receive a £7.5 million funding boost.

At a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association reception to celebrate the Research Foundation’s ‘Year of Achievement’, Mr Pearson confirmed that the Government through the Medical Research Council (MRC) will fund at least £7.5 million in high quality research awards over the next five years.

More information about this Government announcement can be found here.

Lembit Öpik MP, President of the MND Association, and special guest Professor Stephen Hawking hosted last night’s reception and reflected on the Research Foundation’s achievements in the past 12 months. The Royal Society proved to be a fitting backdrop to this celebratory event as it is home to the academy dedicated to scientific excellence.

Mr Pearson explained to the assembled guests comprising of loyal Association supporters, eminent MND researchers and potential supporters: “As a Government, the Medical Research Council, and the Department of Health, we do have a good relationship with the Association which we want to blossom…I believe there are excellent research opportunities and if we work together then we can achieve the vision of a world free of MND."

Professor Hawking told guests: “Motor Neurone Disease affects 5,000 people in this country and often kills in two or three years. Yet now with advances in molecular biology and stem cell research we have a chance to understand the causes and mechanism of the condition and to find a cure. I'm one of a few long term survivors, so I have a duty to press for research to banish this curse.”

It certainly has been a year of achievement as the Association has worked hard to raise the funds vital to turning its vision of a World free of MND into a reality through quality research. Highlights since the Research Foundation’s launch include:

• Matched government funding of £7.5 million through the MRC.
• Private pledges approaching £4 million.
• Prime Minister’s questions which resulted in high level influencing with Government ministers, including three meetings with two Prime Ministers and meetings with Science and Health Ministers.
• Launch of the Lady Edith Wolfson Clinical Research Fellowships with the MRC.
• Establishment of the MND DNA Bank and National Database. So far 1,600 samples have been collected and this £1 million projects aims to collect several thousand DNA samples over the next five years.
• Launch of the Whole Genome Scan – the largest international programme to find genes that contribute to causing MND.
• Launch of a research programme to improve the lives of people living with MND.

The MND Association is committed to building on the Research Foundation’s initial success. Now, with just £3.5 million to be raised in order to allow the highest level of research to be sponsored and sustained, the Association and its supporters are dedicated to keep on inspiring and galvanising support to create a World free of MND.