18 November 2025 Research
A world-leading neurologist and geneticist at the University of Sheffield has been appointed to the first Rob Burrow Professorship in Translational Neurobiology named after the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow CBE.
Funded by the MND Association in honour of its late patron, the Professorship was awarded to Dr Johnathan Cooper-Knock who is based at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). The award means he can accelerate his work hunting for genes underpinning MND and reveal new avenues for treatment.
Rob’s parents Geoff and Irene Burrow were among the first to congratulate Dr Cooper-Knock while visiting SITraN’s world-class MND research facilities earlier this month.
Funding talented researchers
We have a long history of investing in talented MND researchers and have committed £1.5m over eight years towards the Professorship, which will allow Dr Cooper-Knock to commit more time to research, build his scientific team and extend his investigations into causes and treatments.
Dr Cooper-Knock said: “This Professorship is occurring at a truly exciting moment in the fight against MND with lots of new treatments in the pipeline. However, currently there is a gap in our knowledge – for the majority of patients we simply don't know why the disease starts, even though we know genetics plays a part.
“In this role I’m hoping to fill this gap. We're taking a new approach - instead of only looking at the motor neurons - the cells that die - we're studying how they interact with every other cell around them.
“Focusing on the whole picture is our best chance to find the hidden gene faults which can then become new drug targets to slow down or treat MND.
“We have some promising leads from our work already and I really feel we are on the cusp of something exciting. In three years’ time I hope we have at least one treatment in a clinical trial and several more in the pipeline.
“With the incredible support of the MND Association and the Burrow family, I’m confident we are close to delivering real hope.”
Rob Burrow's legacy
Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019. A rugby league icon, he became a tireless advocate for MND awareness and the need for greater investment into research. Rob’s courage, public campaigning, and determination to make a difference for other people with MND inspired the nation. He died in June 2024, aged 41.
Rob’s legacy and the amazing fundraising from many, including his best friend Kevin Sinfield CBE, has driven forward MND research, including this Professorship in Rob’s name.
Dr Brian Dickie MBE, Chief Scientist at the MND Association said: “Dr Cooper-Knock is a brilliant example of a clinician who is doing research that could directly benefit the patients he cares for. New treatments that slow down or treat this awful disease will have a huge impact on people with MND and their families in the future.
“We are forever grateful to Rob for helping to make more people aware of how devastating this disease is. This award recognises Rob’s drive to find effective treatments for MND and his determination to accelerate MND research so no one else would have to face the same diagnosis. We hope this work paves the way for a very different outlook for people with MND in years to come.”
Geoff Burrow, Rob’s father said: “Funding for MND research gives us hope that one day there will be an end to MND. Rob worked so hard to fundraise to help find treatments and I am so proud this Professorship, funded by the MND Association, is in his name. It was inspiring to visit SITraN to see the research taking place there and meet Professor Johnathan Cooper-Knock, who is absolutely amazing. Irene and I couldn’t have wished for anyone better.”