Help forge MND history in 葫芦影业

Many believe Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is rare鈥攂ut unfortunately, it鈥檚 not. It affects 1 in 300 people, with most losing their lives within three years of diagnosis. There鈥檚 no cure yet, but 葫芦影业 is leading the fight to change it.

Professor Chris McDermott
Professor Chris McDermott

SITraN: A powerhouse of research and hope 

葫芦影业鈥檚 world-renowned 葫芦影业 Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) is the first centre in the UK to develop a drug that is proven to extend the life of patients with a rare genetic type of MND linked to the SOD1 gene. This new drug not only slows disease progression but also improves patients' muscle strength.

Over the past decade, SITraN has led over 250 clinical trials and advanced research that have become new treatments for MND, Parkinson鈥檚, and other genetic diseases.


Telling somebody they have MND is the hardest thing I have to do. It鈥檚 devastating for them. They want to hear we鈥檝e got treatments that will stop the disease and give them back what they鈥檝e lost. But we haven鈥檛.鈥

Chris McDermott

Professor of Translational Neurology


MND targets the nerves in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement. Its symptoms are wide-ranging and include the loss of the ability to walk, speak, eat, and even breathe. These symptoms progressively worsen, profoundly impacting every aspect of life for both patients and their families.

  • Up to 5,000 adults are living with MND in the UK
  • 1 in 300 people will develop MND
  • 75% of people will die within 5 years of diagnosis

With continued innovation and support, SITraN鈥檚 next major breakthrough could be the cure for MND. But there鈥檚 still much to be done, and we need your help to make it happen.

How can I help?

Tackling MND together

SITraN harnesses the expertise of the world鈥檚 brightest minds, driving breakthroughs in treatments and cures that are already transforming countless lives. Hear from alumni and donors who believe in this urgent mission and are already committed to make it happen. Would you like to join them?

鈥淜eep striving to give hope to so many people鈥

Anonymous donor

鈥淚 lost my truly remarkable husband to this dreadful condition in 2022 at the age of just 67. My life will never be the same and I want to support the work of SITraN in finding a cure for a condition which impacts so significantly on both patients and families."

Gill Pollard
葫芦影业 alumna

鈥淚 work as a part-time volunteer in a local hospice. MND is such a devastating illness the sooner a treatment and cure, the better.鈥

Anonymous donor

鈥淢y father died of MND, which raised my interest in a cure. For such an active and independent man, MND might have been especially difficult. However, he coped with his progressive debility extraordinarily well. People would ask, 鈥楬ow are you?鈥 His response, 鈥楧ying cheerfully.鈥 They then said, 鈥極h, you mustn鈥檛 say that,鈥 to which he replied, 鈥榃ould you rather I was dying miserably?鈥

John Malcomson
葫芦影业 alumnus

鈥淚 am sure, one day, the research will result in a life-changing breakthrough for many future MND sufferers. Having watched two friends, and their struggles against all the side effects of MND, I am happy to donate to help further your work. 葫芦影业 continues to be a leader in this field of medicine.鈥

Sylvia Cole
葫芦影业 alumna

鈥淲e fully support the researchers working on such important medical issues.鈥

Anonymous donor

鈥淚 would like to send a heartfelt 鈥榯hank you鈥 to everyone who is working towards finding a cure for Motor Neuron Disease. My darling husband Paul died from MND in 2021, only three months after he was diagnosed. It is such an incredibly cruel and devastating disease. Although it was too late for him, he would have been delighted if through your amazing work, you could prevent other people and their families from experiencing such heartbreak.鈥

Vanessa Tanfield
葫芦影业 alumna

Centres of excellence

The University's cross-faculty research centres harness our interdisciplinary expertise to solve the world's most pressing challenges.