Identifying pre-symptomatic biomarkers for MND in the skin.
Principal Investigator: Dr Katie Hanna
Lead Institution: University of Strathclyde
MND Association Funding: £334,759
Funding dates: March 2026 - February 2029
About the project
Evidence suggests that there are changes in other parts of the body, such as the skin, that occur in MND before symptoms start. This research project, led by Dr Katie Hanna, is exploring whether the skin can be used to detect MND before symptoms develop. Katie will combine digital analysis of skin samples with a laser-based technique called Raman spectroscopy, which can show unique chemical fingerprints in different samples. These methods will be used to help to identify reliable markers of MND from accessible sites like the skin.
What could this mean for MND research?
The goal of this research is to develop simple, fast, and accurate diagnostic tools that can be used in clinics, without the need for invasive investigations, to detect MND earlier. This could help to speed up the diagnostic process and allow people earlier access to care and potential treatments for MND, which could help to improve people’s outcomes.
Project code: 2533-799