Healthcare

These projects aim to increase the quality of life of people living with MND. A selection of our most recent healthcare projects are highlighted below.

Download our research we fund information sheet for details of all of the projects we fund.

Withdrawal of NIV in MND and the experience of close family members

• Dr Christina Faull
• The Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice (LOROS)
• £50,000 (Healthcare project) over one year
• Start date: October 2012
• Our Ref: 6389 Oct 12

A few people with MND become dependent on NIV, and use it for most of the time. As their quality of life changes some of these patients reach a time when they wish to stop NIV. This study will interview 20 close family carers and 20 non-medical health professionals who have been involved in withdrawing NIV, at the request of the person with MND, to develop appropriate information and guidance for families and healthcare professionals.

Measuring quality of life in MND

• Prof Carolyn Young
• Walton Centre, Liverpool
• £42,620 (Healthcare project) over three years
• Start date: February 2012
• Our Ref: 6384 Feb 12

This project aims to develop patient-reported outcome measures and a model of quality of life for people with MND.

Clinical trial of diaphragm pacing

• Dr Christopher McDermott
• University of Sheffield
• Grant awarded: £300,960 over 2 years (to pay for diaphragm pacing units. The majority of funding for the trial will be provided by the National Institute for Health Research.)
• Start date: August 2011
• Our ref: 6368 Nov10

Diaphragm pacing is a way of supporting breathing by supplying regular pulses of electrical stimulation to the diaphragm muscle. This project will rigorously test whether diaphragm pacing provides benefits for people with MND, in terms of survival and quality of life, over and above those provided by current standard respiratory care.