Author: Eleanor Green

I work in the Research Development team at the MND Association as a Research Co-ordinator. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science and I became very interested in neuroscience throughout my degree. Following on from this, I did a Master’s degree in Molecular Medicine, with a focus on gene therapies. As part of my role, I will be helping the Research Development team to identify interesting updates in MND research and communicate these via the blog in an understandable and engaging way.

Symposium Preview: Meet the ALS/MND Plenary Speakers…Part 2

8 November 202321 November 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 7 minutes Each year we invite plenary speakers who are experts in their fields to provide an overview on topics across MND research and clinical practice. This year we have 14 plenary speakers talking about ALS/MND who will discuss a wide range of topics from genetics to tissue biomarkers to improving clinical practice. In this second blog we will be taking a closer look at some of our plenary speakers this year and sharing more about the topics they will be discussing.

Symposium Preview: Meet the ALS/MND Plenary Speakers…Part 1

1 November 202321 November 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 7 minutes As the research team count down to this year’s International Symposium on ALS/MND, we will be posting blogs throughout November to give you a snapshot of some of the research being presented at this year’s event. This year marks the 34th Symposium, the largest scientific and medical conference specific to ALS/MND, and we are looking…

A stepping stone to becoming future leaders in MND research

12 September 202312 September 2023Eleanor Green1 Comment

Reading Time: 6 minutes MND is a very complex disease and collaboration within the research community is key to building on our current understanding of the disease biology and finding effective treatments. The MND Association recognises the importance of expanding the dedicated MND research workforce, as well as supporting those who are already working in the field. To fund…

ANQUR: A new clinical trial in the UK for MND

7 September 20237 September 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 6 minutes QurAlis, a biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for MND and other neurodegenerative diseases, has announced the opening of a clinical trial in the UK. This trial of a gene therapy, called QRL-201, is a phase 1 trial in people with MND and will test the therapy to determine whether it is safe and…

Taking a look behind the scenes of clinical trials in MND

19 July 202319 July 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 5 minutes The MND clinical trial landscape has grown vastly over the last decade and this has led to increased opportunities for people with MND to take part in research across the globe. Behind these trials, sit a large number of highly dedicated staff at each trial site who make sure the trial is set-up, recruiting and…

EXPERTS-ALS: a new drug testing platform from the UK MND Research Institute

21 June 202321 June 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 6 minutes MND is a very complex disease, and in the UK there is still only one approved treatment so the need for more effective treatments remains at the forefront of MND research. There have been over 140 clinical trials for MND over the last several decades and the majority of these have, unfortunately, not led to…

Keeping MND-SMART moving

19 June 202319 June 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 5 minutes The current pace of clinical trials means that there are now more trials testing potential drugs for MND in the UK than ever before. One of these trials is MND-SMART which is designed to run for several years and give more people with the disease a chance to take part in a trial. The MND…

Could improving recycling in cells be a new target for future MND therapies?

25 May 202325 May 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 5 minutes Recent research, led by scientists at the University of Edinburgh and University of Dundee, has identified abnormalities in a type of brain cell called microglia in MND associated with mutations in the C9orf72 gene. It has been suggested for a long time that motor neurons may not be the only type of cell involved in…

Measuring cognitive and behavioural changes in MND

20 April 202320 April 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 4 minutes It is known that people with MND experience different symptoms, and these are not just movement related. People with MND can experience difficulty speaking, breathing and swallowing, as well as changes in how they think and behave. It is thought that around 50% of people with the disease also develop changes in their thinking and…

The DiAMoND Study: a new decision aid for people with MND

16 March 202316 March 2023Eleanor Green

Reading Time: 4 minutes Some people with MND experience severe swallowing difficulties and it is estimated that over 50% of those with MND are affected by malnutrition and weight loss due to this. These factors are thought to be associated with increased disability and shortened survival, which is why nutrition remains one of the main challenges surrounding disease management. For those with MND who have severe swallowing difficulties, one of the long-term nutritional support options is a gastrostomy (a feeding tube that is inserted directly into the stomach to deliver food, fluids and some medications).