Investigating some of the early changes in motor neuron axons, which connect the cell body to the terminals of the cells, using a novel on chip bioengineered platform.
Principal Investigator: Dr Andrea Serio
Lead Institution: King's College London
MND Association Funding: £343,929
Funding dates: October 2025 - September 2028
About the project
Motor neurons have a long string-like thread that connects the main body of the cell to the terminals of the cell. In the human body, these axons can be up to 1 metre in length, stretching from the spinal cord down to the muscles in the toes. Previous research has shown that motor neuron axons begin to break down in the early stages of MND, but it is not well understood what causes this damage to the axons. One reason it is hard to find these answers is because existing motor neuron models are missing some of the key features of human motor neurons, including their length. In this project, the researchers will develop a novel method of growing neurons from people with MND that more closely mimic the structure of human motor neurons, including longer axons. This will allow them to study the components of the axons in detail, including the RNA, protein and DNA, to better understand the early changes that happen to motor neuron axons in MND. They will look at different mutations linked to MND and investigate whether the length of the axons affects how the cells respond to stress, which contributes to MND progression.
What could this mean for MND research?
The researchers hope to discover new insights into the early stages of MND, which may uncover novel targets for developing effective treatments. The development of this more accurate model of motor neurons will be a valuable tool for neurodegenerative disease research.
Project code: 2489-791