Nerve disease expert comes to university

17 November 2008

A CONSULTANT neurologist has been appointed to head an Edinburgh University centre investigating Motor Neurone Disease.

Siddharthan Chandran, currently at Cambridge University, will head the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research at the university.

The centre, the only one of its kind in Scotland, aims to understand why motor neurones – cells which control voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking and breathing – break down.

It incorporates expertise in regenerative medicine and stem cell research, neuroscience, molecular medicine and genetics.

Dr Chandran is currently co-director of the Cambridge Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre and a fellow at King's College, Cambridge. He is due to take up the post next year and will hold the MacDonald Chair of Neurology.

He will also set up a specialist multidisciplinary motor neurone disease clinic in Edinburgh.

He said: "The centre's mission is to undertake laboratory and clinical research that leads to new therapies. Our research includes looking at stem cells which represent a terrific opportunity to learn about the disease, as well as potentially develop new drugs and treatments."

"You get to choose between a better life or a bitter life." Evelyn Ha

BACK TO ALS/MND RESEARCH

HOME

MGM