Motor neurone disease cure 'could be possible' after Doddie Weir charity's work

16 April 2023 , 21:13

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Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir died in November following a six-year fight with motor neurone disease (Image: PA)

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.

The charity in the athlete's name continues to raise money and awareness (PA)

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.

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“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”.

Stephen White