Biomedical Sciences

First major collaboration for SMA study

Sep 15: Congratulations to Prof Tom Gillingwater (Euan Macdonald Centre) and Prof Catherina Becker (CNR) who have been awarded a first of its kind collaboration grant by the SMA Trust

It is the first major collaboration for the study of SMA involving researchers across the UK and aims to find new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) . Researchers will advance investigations of existing drug targets and identify new therapies that maintain nerve function in children affected by SMA. They also hope to identify improved ways of delivering treatments in order to maximise benefit throughout the body.

SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) is similar to Muscular Dystrophy and Motor Neurone Disease and is a rare, inherited muscle-wasting disease that affects young children.

It has been funded by The SMA Trust - the only UK charity solely focussed on funding research into finding a cure and treatments for SMA.

The new UK Consortium will act to speed up the development and testing of new drugs and treatments for spinal muscular atrophy. I am delighted that the University of Edinburgh is contributing to this important network, allowing us to embed our research into the new national framework.

Professor Tom Gillingwater

Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research

Related links:

Prof Tom Gillngwaters staff profile

Prof Catherina Beckers staff profile

The SMA trust

UoE press release

Euan MacDonald Centre

Centre for Neuroregeneration