Charity in campaign for MND human therapy trial

A research charity has launched a campaign to raise money to lay foundations for human trials of a therapy for motor neurone disease (MND).

The Funding Neuro campaign to raise the £150,000 needed for the pre-clinical stage of development has already been boosted by a £50,000 donation from the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. It was set up last year by Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir, who suffers from MND.

There is currently no cure for the fatal condition, which affects the brain and nerves. The research hopes to develop a therapy that will deliver viral and gene therapy directly into the brain to restore the function of motor neurones. Laboratory work has shown specific viruses that are modified to carry therapeutic genes can be transported into the spinal cord.