Neurologist to head pioneering research centre
Motor neurone disease research at the University of Edinburgh is to be boosted with the appointment of director to lead a centre investigating the illness.
Dr Siddharthan Chandran, a clinical neurologist, will head the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, leading work to understand why motor neurones – cells which control voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking and breathing – break down.
The centre – which was set up following a generous donation from Euan MacDonald, who has motor neurone disease and his father Donald incorporates expertise in regenerative medicine and stem cell research, neuroscience, molecular medicine and genetics.
Dr Chandran, who will hold the MacDonald Chair of Neurology at the University, said: “I am delighted to be coming to the University of Edinburgh, which is renowned for its cutting-edge research. Motor neurone disease is a debilitating disorder and only by understanding it can we hope to find effective treatments and improve patient care. This research includes looking at stem cells, which represent a terrific opportunity to both study and learn about the disease as well as potentially develop new drugs and treatments.”
Dr Chandran, who is currently co-director of the Cambridge Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre and a fellow at Kings College, Cambridge, will also establish a specialist multidisciplinary Motor Neurone Disease Clinic in Edinburgh.
Motor Neurone Disease affects around one in 100,000 people, yet while in a small minority of cases the disease seems to be inherited, scientists are not sure what causes it.
The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research is the only one of its kind in Scotland and works closely with the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association, as well as liaising with other centres of excellence, such as the Packard Centre in the US and the King’s Motor Neurone Disease Care and Research Centre in London.
Euan Macdonald, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease four years ago, aged 29, and who studied law at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This appointment will further strengthen research into motor neurone disease in Edinburgh, with a strong emphasis on clinicians and scientists working together to translate research into clinical benefits for patients.”
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