The new UK MND Research Institute has been officially launched! On Friday 3rd November 2023 at Kings College in London, patients, world leading UK MND researchers, charities and guests attended the formal opening of the Institute.
The day was a roaring success and we hope the 100 and more guests really enjoyed being a part of a truly historical moment in UK, and in fact global, MND research strategy. After almost 4 years of campaigning with the UK government we now have a research Institute entirely focused on the acceleration of MND research with the ultimate aim of bringing effective treatments for our disease.
United2endMND was proudly represented on the day by Dave Setters, who gave the welcome speech, Jennie Starkey and Stephen Mallet.
A recorded video message from Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a strong supporter of the new Institute, was shown demonstrating the sheer impact of the campaign over the past 4 years, including the £50m government commitment in 2021.
…We really want to turbo-charge the amazing work of the campaigns around Doddie Weir, Rob Burrows and so many others….So let’s get more researchers, let’s accelerate the adoption of the best innovation in the labs and really maximise the potential of the MND Research Institute…
Steve Barclay
Next on stage was the Institute’s amazing co-director, Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi who gave an wide ranging introduction to the aims and strategy behind this exciting new endeavour.
The Secretary of State was followed by Tris Dyson, a young father recently diagnosed with MND, who gave an excellent presentation on ‘Challenge Prizes’ in his role as managing director of challengeworks.org. Challenge prizes, a cash prize to an individual or team, have become key tools in innovation. Attracting new researchers to often neglected fields. I think you will agree with us, a very powerful tool. Watch out for developments.
Further presentations on the work of the Institute were given by Professor Linda Greensmith and two young researchers from the Institute, Dr Ersilia Vinci and Dr Shiden Solomon. Our equally amazing, co-director Professor Chris McDermott concluded describing one of the unique projects, EXPERTS-ALS, a rapid drug screening platform.
The new institute now has its own brand new gleaming and shiny website. Take a look.
It’s work has only just begun.
Stay tuned for regular updates, both on the new website and of course here on united2endmnd.org.
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