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School of Neuroscience

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

ALS/motor neuron disease

People with motor neuron disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), develop progressive weakness of speaking, swallowing, limbs and eventually breathing.

One in every 300 people will develop ALS/MND, typically in their 50s or 60s. It is a devastating diagnosis with an average life expectancy of just three years.

Working closely with our patients, our prize-winning, world-leading research programme aims to understand the causes of ALS/MND, dissect out the differences between clinical presentations, and use this information to develop new treatments.

Our key questions:

Which genes are involved in ALS/MND?
How do these genes change nervous system structure and function?
What influences disease progression?
What is the effect of factors such as genes or environment on disease progression?
Can changes in the way a patient thinks or copes affect outcomes?

Click people profiles to discover their research:

Dr Ahmad Al Khleifat

Senior Research Fellow
Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi

Professor of Neurology and Complex Disease Genetics
Dr Manolis Fanto

Reader in Functional Genomics
Dr Frank Hirth

Reader of Evolutionary Neuroscience
Professor Corinne Houart

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Dr Maria Jimenez-Sanchez

MRC Career Development Fellow
Professor Heinz Jungbluth

Professor of Paediatric Neurology & Consultant Paediatric Neurologist
Dr Younbok Lee

Senior Lecturer
Dr Ivo Lieberam

Senior Lecturer
Dr Sarah Marzi

Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience
Professor Christopher Miller

Professor of Molecular Neuroscience
Dr Jackie Mitchell

Lecturer in In Vivo Modelling of Neurodegeneration
Dr Sarah Mizielinska

Senior Lecturer
Dr Marc-David Ruepp

Reader in RNA Biology and Molecular Neurodegeneration
Dr Andrea Serio

Reader in Neural Tissue Engineering
Professor Christopher Shaw

Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics
Dr Jemeen Sreedharan

Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow
Dr Claire Troakes

Senior Lecturer
Professor Jernej Ule

Van Geest Professor of Neurodegeneration Research
Dr Caroline Vance

Senior Lecturer

Ageing and neurodegeneration

News and events

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13 December 2024

DNA Markers Influence Gene Expression in Different Cells and Tissues

A new study reveals key insight into how gene expression is regulated in health and disease.

landing page neuron

12 December 2024

Laura Andreae awarded a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant to uncover the rules behind neuronal development

The project Neuronal Trees: Linking Biology to Models looks at how neurons develop their complex…

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12 December 2024

CircadiAgeing Research Programme Awarded £4.4 million by BBSRC

The inter-university programme will look into the role of circadian rhythms in ageing through…

Two men and one woman stand in front of a projector screen

11 December 2024

Professor Robert Hindges delivers inaugural lecture "With an Eye on the Brain"

On 4 December 2024, Professor Hindges gave his inaugural lecture as a Professor of Developmental…