The Government says it will cut red tape in order to speed up research into motor neurone disease (MND) across the UK, with immediate investment, so NHS patients can benefit from cutting-edge treatment and medicines.
Work being undertaken in the field of MND research has highlighted the impact that cutting-edge research can have, but also the progress still to be made to help sufferers of this debilitating condition.
Removing red tape will ensure funding reaches frontline researchers more quickly, enabling faster progress towards treatments. This will be done through Biomedical Research Centres – which are collaborations between academics and clinicians to translate breakthroughs in the lab into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies – to get funding to the most promising researchers who are already working in MND.
As well as this, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) will work together to ensure proposals are referred to the most appropriate scheme for consideration at the early idea stage. This presents an opportunity for outstanding researchers to get further funding beyond the initial £50 million to get new treatments from the lab to patients.
The Health and Social Care Secretary will also host leading researchers and patient groups at a roundtable to discuss their research on MND, and how they can access this additional funding and ensure bids are made – this will ensure an open dialogue of communication.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "Motor neurone disease can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, and I’m determined to help accelerate research to find a cure and develop innovative treatments.
"We’ve already invested millions to improve treatments and our understanding of this condition, but there’s more we can do, and that’s why I’m now slashing red tape to fast-track funding and ensure it reaches frontline researchers more quickly."
