News

Find out about what's been happening in the trial.

First results published from innovative platform trial, MND-SMART, aiming to speed up delivery of treatments for motor neuron disease

Sep 2024: Trazodone and memantine results published

A picture of Dr Andrew Barritt, Principal Investigator and colleague Daniel Hansen, Lead Research Nurse from the Brighton team. Both are smiling at the camera and are standing in a clinic room.

Welcome to Sheffield, King's College London and Brighton

Jan 2024: Sheffield, King's College London, and Brighton have recently joined MND-SMART.

Autumn 2023 Newsletter

Nov 2023: Our latest newsletter is now available.

screenshot of publication titles and authors from Journal of Neurology

Factors Impacting Trial Participation in People with MND

Oct 2023: MND-SMART researchers have recently published a study that aimed to improve understanding of why people with MND choose to participate, or not participate, in clinical trials of potential new treatments.

A screenshot of the header of the publication in the scientific journal

The role of placebo control in clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases

Oct 2023: The MND-SMART trial team, and the people living with MND who are co-producing the trial, have considered the pros and cons of including a placebo group in a trial like MND-SMART.

A group of 12 people standing and smiling outside the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic. Half of the people are researchers wearing teal scrubs. The others are the trial leads for MND-SMART and representatives from the Alan Davidson Foundation.

New funding to accelerate opportunities for participation in MND-SMART

Sep 2023: We're delighted to announce that the Alan Davidson Foundation has pledged £1.275M investment in MND-SMART over 5 years to further increase opportunities for people living with MND across the UK to participate in the trial.

Breaking News: An update on Memantine, Trazodone and Placebo arms

Sep 2023: Judy Newton, MND nurse consultant and Beverley Gray, MND-SMART family, and participant representative detail the outcome of the latest results of MND-SMART.

A group photo of about 80 people in a conference room

MND-SMART Gathering - Edinburgh July 2023

Jul 2023: The MND-SMART teams from across the UK came together for an informative and enjoyable afternoon symposium to discuss all aspects of the trial.

Screenshot from webinar featuring the four participants on a video call

Webinar recording: Unlocking the Future of MND: A Journey of Discovery and Hope

June 2023: Watch a recording of the Dementia Researcher webinar about MND and the MND-SMART clinical trial.

Dr Jane Haley (right), Director of Research MND Scotland, with Mr Stevie Williams (left), who is living with MND, plus Judy Newton, MND Nurse Lead for Scotland, and Prof Suvankar Pal, co-lead of MND-SMART)

New investment in MND-SMART

June 2023: Charities MND Scotland and the MND Association have announced £2.5M funding for MND-SMART.

a man sitting at a desk in a clinic room, smiling at a researcher who is holding a clipboard

MND-SMART is growing: thank you to all our participants and site teams!

June 2023: MND-SMART has reached several milestones recently in terms of number of participants recruited, number of sites open, and number of drugs being tested.