Aberdeen drug trial now open

The groundbreaking MND clinical drugs trial, MND-SMART, has now opened in Aberdeen, following sites in Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Salford.

People diagnosed with MND will now be able to join the clinical trial from across the NHS Grampian region, at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. 

MND-SMART – which MND Scotland has invested £1.5m into – is a pioneering clinical drugs trial in its reach and design that launched in January 2020. The trial is recruiting hundreds of people living with MND across the UK to take part in tests of potential treatments.

Unlike typical clinical drugs trials which test a single treatment at a time, MND-SMART is testing multiple drugs and so aims to speed up the time it takes to find medicines that can slow, stop, or reverse the progression of, MND.

Whilst working to open new sites as quickly as possible, ensuring the safety of people taking part in MND-SMART is the trial teams’ highest priority. The trial sponsor and local research and development teams have carefully reviewed the impact of Covid-19 and have provided clear guidance that recruitment to MND-SMART may continue in line with the ongoing delivery of essential healthcare. 

People with MND who have already registered online interest in the trial and who live in the NHS Grampian region, will be contacted by the trial team over the coming months to discuss taking part. Please be aware that Covid-19 rules will have an impact on the pace of recruitment.

Dr Callum Duncan, the Consultant Neurologist leading the study at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, said: 

“We are looking forward to welcoming people into the MND-SMART trial. This is the first wide-scale MND clinical trial in years and so is a very exciting step forward amongst hugely challenging times in healthcare.”

To read more about the trial, and how to register your interest, please visit MND-SMART.org.

MND-SMART is funded by the Euan MacDonald Centre, substantial private donations, MND Scotland and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.