The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research

07/10/2026

Research led by Dr Maria Stavrou and Dr Bhuvaneish Selvaraj (UK DRI at Edinburgh, and Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research) reveals new understanding of how cells receive their energy supply in MND.

Findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism by which dysfunctional astrocytes drive dysfunction in motor neurons. Suggesting that therapies targeting astrocytes could help protect motor neurons in ALS.

Read the full news article: https://www.euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/brains-support-cells-disrupt-energy-transport-motor-neuron-disease

| Edinburgh Neuroscience | The University of Edinburgh

30/09/2026

🔬 Taking MND research beyond the lab!

At the Euan MacDonald Centre, we’re proud to celebrate the work and experiences of our early-career researcher members.

For Sophie Cuthbertson, attending the MND EnCouRage workshop earlier in the summer was an opportunity to build her science communication skills, share her research with people affected by MND, and hear about the experiences of patients and carers.

We asked Sophie to share her experience ⬇️https://www.euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/taking-mnd-research-beyond-lab-mnd-encourage

| Sophie Cuthbertson | MND Association

(photograph credit: MND Association)

18/09/2026

🐾🔬🧠We're celebrating our postdoc researchers this Postdoctoral Awareness Week by taking a look at some of our fantastic network's postdocs.

Working across different research groups and disciplines, postdocs bring expertise, curiosity and fresh ideas to research. All working together as part of the Euan MacDonald Centre - Scotland's MND research network.

Meet the featured postdocs: https://www.euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/postdoctoral-appreciation-week-2026

| Edinburgh Neuroscience | The University of Edinburgh

31/08/2026

We’re delighted to share that a new MND-SMART trial site has opened at the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.

MND-SMART is led by the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research at the University of Edinburgh and is a flagship project of the UK Dementia Research Institute.

This new site will help create more opportunities for people living with and to take part in clinical trials across the UK.

The trial has been funded by the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, UK Dementia Research Institute, the MND Association, MND Scotland, the Alan Davidson Foundation, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Baillie Gifford.

Read the full story on the MND-SMART website:
https://www.mnd-smart.org/news/mnd-smart-launches-rob-burrow-centre-for-motor-neurone-disease

UK Dementia Research Institute The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Neuroscience The University of Edinburgh MND Association My Name'5 Doddie Foundation MND Scotland

14/08/2026

We’re pleased to share the results from Euan’s Guide Impact Report. It feels fitting that we’re sharing them today, on what would have been Euan’s 52nd birthday.

Euan’s determination to make life better for people living with disability and MND continues through Euan’s Guide, SpeakUnique and the Euan MacDonald Centre, three important parts of the legacy he created.

For people living with MND and their families, Euan’s vision continues to inspire our work every day as we strive for better understanding, better treatments and, ultimately, a future free from MND.

Euan, we hope you would be proud of the difference your legacy continues to make. 🩵

SpeakUnique Edinburgh Neuroscience University of Edinburgh College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine The University of Edinburgh UK Dementia Research Institute

10/07/2026

🙏🏼A huge thank you to everyone at Tam's Team: Tonto on Tinto for taking on Tinto Hill in memory of Thomas "Tam" Agnew, and in support of his sister Angela, who is living with MND.

Please join us in cheering them on by sponsoring the team or sharing their fundraiser. Every donation helps motor neuron disease research at the Euan MacDonald Centre.

Donate via Tam's Team JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/thomasagnew

Fundraise Your Way Angela Brown Tams Team

On 19 September, Our friends and Tams 3 little birds will be doing our first “Tam’s Team” challenge and going “Tonto on Tinto”

We are trying to raise money for the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research.

We lost our friend Thomas (Tam) Agnew to MND in 2020, and now his sister Angela is facing the same disease.

If you’d like to support us, we’d be incredibly grateful for a donation. Every penny will help fund vital research and honour Tam’s memory and show Angela the support she deserves ❤️.

If any of Tams Friends and Family want to join our challenges. Let us know. 💚

It’s still a few months away but we’re an auld team now, so we have to get training. 💚💚💚

JustGiving link in the comments.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/thomasagnew?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

21/06/2026

🔷MND AWARENESS DAY 2026 🔷
Today, on MND Awareness Day, we recognise everyone affected by motor neuron disease (MND) and thank all those for helping to drive progress towards better treatments and a cure.

Thanks to the support of our community, the Euan MacDonald Centre continues to work through research, to improve the outcomes for people living with motor neuron disease (MND) and related conditions.

Read about how the Euan MacDonald Centre is
🔬 Accelerating treatment development through MND-SMART
🌍 Building global collaborations through CureND4ALS
🎓 Training the next generation of MND researchers

..... and more in our latest newsletter 🔽
🔗https://www.euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/summer-2026-newsletter

Thank you to everyone who takes part in research, fundraises, campaigns and supports our work.
Euan's Guide Edinburgh Neuroscience The University of Edinburgh Fundraise Your Way SpeakUnique

20/06/2026

🔷MND AWARENESS 2026 🔷
Ahead of MND Awareness day, we're proud to share this new film showcasing MND-SMART, Europe's largest clinical trial for motor neuron disease. MND-SMART is a flagship project of the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI), led by the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research at the University of Edinburgh.

Featuring researchers, clinicians, trial participants and family members, the film highlights the collaborative effort behind MND-SMART and the shared determination to accelerate the development of effective treatments for MND.

Watch the film to hear first-hand from those involved and learn how this pioneering trial is helping to shape the future of MND research.

Featuring colleagues from Edinburgh alongside trial participants and families, this video demonstrates how collaborative, patient-centred research is helping to accelerate the search for effective treatments for MND.

10/06/2026

🍺Science at the Pub: Dismantling MND, One Pint at a Time 🍺
Read the blog from Euan MacDonald Centre researchers at Dundee University who recently took part in the Pint of Science Festival at Dundee. They took to the stage to share how they are tackling motor neuron disease from entirely different angles.

🔗Link also in comments : https://www.euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/science-pub-dismantling-mnd-one-pint-time

Edinburgh Neuroscience | University of Dundee | Pint of Science UK

27/05/2026

We'd like to congratulate the winners of this year's Hampton Award: Rod Carter, Mungo Harvey and Alyssa Corbett!

Unusually, these awards are not made for academic success.
The Euan MacDonald Centre makes three awards each year to members who have gone 'above and beyond'.

Find out more at

Hampton Award winners 2026 Many congratulations to this year's three winners: researchers who have gone "above and beyond". Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Hampton Awards! The winners this year were Rod Carter, Mungo Harvey and Alyssa Corbett (shown left to right in the photo, with Judy N...