I work in the Research Development team as a Senior Research Information Co-ordinator. I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a PhD in Chemistry in 2020. After finishing my PhD, I joined an R&D company based in Nottingham where I spent my time synthesising potential new drug treatments for a wide variety of diseases. As part of my role I will help the team communicate the latest MND research on this blog, as well as on our twitter page (@MNDResearch).
Reading Time: 6 minutes Over the past couple of years, the pace of MND research has continued to increase. In the last year alone, we saw an increase in the number of MND clinical trials recruiting worldwide. During 2023 we heard some promising results from early trials and Tofersen (Qalsody), a treatment for SOD1 MND, was approved for use…
Reading Time: 5 minutes Every year, the team works hard to build on the previous year’s success. This year we are excited to include a series of three ALS-FTD joint sessions, in collaboration with the International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias, in the programme. To give you a teaser of what is to come, we are taking a closer look at the plenary speakers in the ALS-FTD sessions at the Symposium. In this blog, we explore the topics they will be presenting and find out a little more about the speakers.
Reading Time: 5 minutes Every year, the team works hard to build on the previous year’s success. This year we are excited to include a series of three ALS-FTD joint sessions, in collaboration with the International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias, in the programme.
Some people with ALS, the most common form of MND, also develop a form of dementia known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is a group of disorders where the nerve cells in two sets of lobes (frontal and temporal) in the brain are damaged. In a similar way to how motor neurones break down in MND and cause loss of function in muscles, the damage to the nerve cells in FTD causes the connections between parts of the brain to break down. As more cells become damaged and die this can lead to symptoms such as problems with memory, thinking or language, changes in mood, emotions and behaviour.
Reading Time: 6 minutes On the 8 September 2023, members of the Research Development team at the MND Association attended the 4th UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre International Symposium. Leading international researchers were invited to speak about key areas of MND research, with a focus on translational research. We listened to talks on early laboratory research and…
Reading Time: 7 minutes Clinical trials are vital in the hunt for effective treatments of motor neurone disease. They provide the evidence needed to determine whether a drug is safe and effective. In trials, participants are randomly assigned to receive either the treatment or a dummy drug, also known as a placebo. While this group is crucially important in…
Reading Time: 6 minutes To fight motor neurone disease, we need a steady stream of enthusiastic and passionate scientists who can bring new ideas and push boundaries. Often, we talk of MND research as a puzzle, with each new piece of research adding to the bigger picture. The scientists just beginning their careers, known as early career researchers, could…
Reading Time: 5 minutes The pace of MND research continues to increase, with more clinical trials underway in the UK, over the last year, than ever before. Adding to this momentum, the clinical platform trial MAGNET (Multi-arm, Adaptive, Group-sequential trial NETwork)has just opened to recruitment in the UK.
Over the last several decades, there have been over 140 clinical trials for MND and unfortunately most of these have not led to effective treatments. More recently, clinical trial design has become more innovative, including the use of platform trials. MAGNET is a platform trial which aims to accelerate the development of new potential treatments for MND by testing multiple drugs simultaneously.
Reading Time: 4 minutes A new clinical trial, investigating Dazucorilant, for the treatment of MND is now open for recruitment in the UK. With this trial, there are now 6 clinical trials recruiting in the UK, further highlighting the current momentum in finding potential effective treatments for MND. People living with MND often show signs of over-active adrenal glands,…
Reading Time: 7 minutes On 25th April 2023 Tofersen (now known as Qalsody in the US), a treatment for SOD1 MND was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. The FDA approval in the US is a welcome step forward in the fight against MND and further highlights the commitment and dedication of the…
Reading Time: 2 minutes Researchers from King’s College London have recently completed a study looking into different variations (a change or mistake) within the SOD1 gene and found that understanding the position and type of change within the gene can help to predict onset and progression of the disease.
