A Guernsey charity supporting people living with motor neurone disease is giving £30,000 to a biomedical research project being led by scientists at Oxford University.

The study will use advanced laboratory techniques to try and improve the identification of potential drug targets and supporting the development of treatments that could slow or halt disease progression.

Pictured: Guernsey Motor Neurone Disease charity can be contacted HERE.

The disease affects around five people per 100,000 population globally with the lifetime risk of developing the disease around 1 in 300 (MND Association).

Guernsey Motor Neurone works to provide care and support for anyone living with Motor Neurone Disease in the Bailiwick, as well as their carers and families.

The charity loans medical equipment, helps with fundraising, provides volunteer visitors, and helps to promote public and professional awareness and understanding of MND.

The £30,000 donation will help fund the joint research between the UK’s Motor Neurone Disease Association and the University of Oxford.

Pictured: Ruxandra Dafinca and Kevin Talbot are leading the research that Guernsey Motor Neurone has donated £30,000 towards.

The money will support the three-year project led by Dr Ruxandra Dafinca, Senior Research Fellow at Oxford and Professor Kevin Talbot, Head of Clinical Neurosciences.

Their research is investigating the role of mitochondria — the energy-producing structures within cells — in the breakdown of communication between nerve cells in Motor Neurone Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia. This disruption occurs at the synapse, one of the earliest sites of damage in MND.

Vito Priore (pictured top and far left), GMN Treasurer and Director handed over the cheque to Dr Brian Dickie MBE, the Chief Scientist of the MNDA, at the charity’s headquarters in Northampton. 

He said the donation is a reflection of GMN’s long-standing relationship with the MNDA and its ongoing commitment to supporting research into the disease. 

“We are deeply indebted to the islanders and businesses whose generosity makes it possible for GMN to make this kind of donation,” said Mr Priore.

Dr Dickie (pictured top and right) said: “Charitable funding plays a vital role in enabling the MNDA and its research partners to accelerate research, support scientists and advance the development of new therapies for people living with MND. 

“We are very grateful to the Guernsey charity for their continued financial support.”