HRH The Princess Royal visited The Euan MacDonald Centre on April 19th, 2011. The Princess Royal, who was recently elected Chancellor of The University of Edinburgh, made the visit in her capacity as the Royal Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

During her visit, the Princess Royal toured the EMC labs and met leading researchers who are being funded by the MND Association, including Prof Siddharthan Chandran, Director of the Euan MacDonald Centre, and Prof Sir Ian Wilmut, Chair of the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine. The Princess Royal also met Euan MacDonald and a number of other people living with MND.

HRH Princess Anne, Prof. Sir Ian Wilmut and Prof. Siddharthan Chandran


Presentation by Dr. Catherina Becker and Tatyana Dias, PhD Student

The MND Association has funded a groundbreaking, international MND stem cell research programme. This collaboration between the EMC, King’s College London and Columbia University in New York aims to manipulate stem cells to provide a unique tool to study MND, with the aim of developing new drugs. The results of this research will have a powerful impact in shaping the future of MND research and enhancing future international research collaboration into this devastating disease.

“I am no different to most MND patients who are keen to do anything they can to help the search for meaningful treatments. This can be through participation in clinical trials, tissue donation or fundraising for research. The MND Association has reflected patients’ hopes through the promotion and substantial funding of research in the UK. It is a difficult task but it is heartening to know that a significant effort is underway.” Euan MacDonald