The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research

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...

24/05/2026

🏃EDINBURGH MARATHON FESTIVAL RACE DAY 🏃‍♀️‍➡️
Good luck to all our incredible fundraisers taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival in support of MND research at the Euan MacDonald Centre!

We’re so grateful for your energy, commitment, and generosity in helping to drive forward vital research into motor neuron disease.

Whether you’re running, cheering, or pushing through those final miles, you’re making a real difference with every step.

Enjoy the day and be proud of everything you’ve achieved!

🔗 https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/emc4mnd

18/05/2026

We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our friend and supporter, Scott Hastings. Scott was a longstanding friend and generous supporter of the Euan MacDonald Centre and The University of Edinburgh. .

Colleagues and friends would like to pass their sincere condolences to Scott's family at this sad time.

https://www.euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/scott-hastings-friend-centre-and-mnd-community

17/05/2026

In just one week, an incredible team of fundraisers will be taking on the Edinburgh Marathon Festival in support of MND research at the Euan MacDonald Centre.

We’re incredibly thankful for the enthusiasm and dedication our fundraisers are bringing as they gear up for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Their efforts go far beyond race day preparation. Each training run and every fundraising milestone helps to power vital research into motor neuron disease and bring hope for the future.

As race day approaches, we’ll be cheering them on every step of the way and wishing them the very best of luck for what promises to be an amazing day.

Thank you to: Tom Jackson-Taylor, Millie Gillett, Andrew Garner, Lauren Renton, Anna Stuckert, Alex Anthony, Pab Roberts, Mitchell Collins, Felix Charlton, and Ciara Middleton for their support.

Fundraise Your Way

➡️Donate today and help us keep moving forward: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/EMC4MND

07/05/2026

🍻 We’re excited to share that members of the Euan MacDonald Centre will be taking part in this year’s Pint of Science Festival in Dundee later this month!

Join them for Movement, Muscle and Mind on Wed 20 May at the Bird and Bear, Dundee for an evening exploring the science behind movement, muscles and neurological research in a relaxed pub setting.

Find out more and book tickets here: https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/movement-muscle-and-mind/

24/04/2026

A memorable visit to the Edinburgh Medical School 300 exhibition on the Mound this week, where a group of Euan MacDonald Centre researchers came together to explore three centuries of medical innovation and impact.

The highlight was seeing the portrait of our founder, Euan MacDonald, in the Trailblazer tableau.

There are many other Centre members and friends of the Euan MacDonald Centre featured as part of the exhibition celebrating not only the history, but also the people driving forward vital research today, especially in the field of motor neuron disease.

Some of these people include:

Prof Tom Gillingwater - Professor of Anatomy

Prof Suvankar Pal – Professor of Clinical Trials and Neurodegenerative Disorders, co-lead of the MND-SMART clinical trial

Sir Ian Wilmut - First director of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Mr Bruce Virgo - Supporter and former solicitor, practising in international maritime law.

Ms Chloe Kippen - Director of Philanthropy and College Advancement

Mr Stewart Cromar - E-learning developer, Euan MacDonald Centre website developer

Opportunities like this remind us of the importance of collaboration, legacy, and the human stories that underpin research.

The Euan MacDonald Centre is proud to see such meaningful work recognised in a setting that bridges past, present, and future.

*The Faces of Edinburgh Medical School outdoor exhibition is on view at the Mound Precinct until Sunday 26 April before it moves to Portobello Promenade from Wednesday 29 April to Sunday 14 June

Euan MacDonald Centre researcher group image top row L-R: Kiterie Faller, Hannah Crick, Euan MacDonald portrait, Paul Skehel, Chloe Kippen; bottom row L-R: Irene Roig Ferrando, Rachel Kline, Rebecca Devon, Hannah Smith, Mario Cecchini, Mandy Jackson, Rod Carter

Other pictures featured in the collage are part of the Edinburgh Medical School 300 faces exhibitions including: Stewart Cromar, Suvankar Pal, Bruce Virgo, Tom Gillingwater, and Sir Ian Wilmut.

Edinburgh Medical School Edinburgh Neuroscience

08/04/2026

🐝On this spring-like Wednesday "The bees are buzzin' in the tree," and we're sharing this short video of 12yr old Adi as he fundraises for MND research the Bear Necessities way!”
Support Adi by visiting his JustGiving page👇 https://www.justgiving.com/page/mnd-research

Fundraise Your Way

02/04/2026

🔦April Fundraising Spotlight🔦
We are delighted that Euan MacDonald Centre member - Anna Stuckert is running in this year's Edinburgh Half Marathon for the Euan MacDonald Centre.

📑Read all about her fundraising inspiration 👇https://euanmacdonaldcentre.org/about/news/fundraising-spotlight-annas-race-change-future-als

🏃‍➡️Jump straight to Anna's JustGiving page and show your support 👇
https://www.justgiving.com/page/anna-stuckert-5

Fundraise Your Way