The charity MND Scotland has announced a historic £2 million investment in the UK’s biggest ever MND clinical drug trial, MND-SMART. The sum is the largest ever research investment in the charity’s 42-year history.
The charity has also entered into a partnership with the MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is committing an additional £500,000 to bring the total investment to £2.5 million.
MND-SMART is an innovative clinical trial led by the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research at the University of Edinburgh. It is multi-arm, which means that more than one drug can be tested at the same time. It's also adaptive, which means that new drugs can be added to the trial, while those shown to be ineffective can be dropped.
MND-SMART is open at 20 sites across the UK and has has recruited more than 500 participants since it opened in 2020.
We are delighted to be announcing a historic £2 million investment in the MND-SMART clinical trial, and to be partnering with the MND Association to deliver a further £500,000. This is the largest single research investment MND Scotland has ever made and will help drive the next phase of this pioneering trial, ensuring equitable access to a clinical trial for people with MND.
None of this would be possible if not for our incredible fundraisers, volunteers and donors who make our work possible every day. Together, we will make time count.Dr Jane Haley, Director of Research for MND Scotland
MND-SMART has already transformed the MND clinical trial landscape in the UK; so far more than 500 people with MND across Scotland and the rest of the UK have given up their time to take part in this vital research to identify potential new treatments. I’d like to thank each and every one of them, as well as the team of researchers and clinicians who continue to make this important research happen.
Professor Suvankar Pal, MND-SMART Co-Lead