A cure for motor neurone disease could be “possible” as a charity launched by Doddie Weir unveils its five-year research strategy.
The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, set up in 2017 by the late Scottish rugby player, is to invest £8.5million to boost the battle.
Doddie, who died in November following a six-year fight with MND, launched the charity in frustration at the lack of hope for those with the condition.
The Foundation is also part of a group of organisations which successfully campaigned for the Government’s £50m commitment to fund new treatments and improve early diagnosis.
Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi, director of the MND Research Centre at King’s College London, hailed the “crucial” funding. He said: “When I started MND research almost 30 years ago it seemed ridiculous that an effective treatment might be possible.
“Now a cure is a possibility, although a treatment that dramatically slows MND is more likely. Both are still somewhat in the future.”
Jessica Lee, from MNDF, said the strategy is “ambitious”.
