Advancing Treatments Award
Targeting PARP to rescue TDP-43
Validate therapeutic targets
£335,349.17
View projectTargeting excitotoxicity
Dr Bhuvaneish Selvaraj, Prof Valentina Escott-Price, Prof Colin Smith and Dr. Shreya Das Sharma, The University of Edinburgh and Cardiff University
Advancing Treatments Award
Validate therapeutic targets
October 2025 - October 2028
£421,865.56
Summary
Excitotoxicity is a process of injury to motor neurons, caused by excessive stimulation by glutamate – the body’s chemical messenger that transmits messages between neurons. Excitotoxicity is observed in approximately 97% of MND cases including both familial and sporadic forms. Dr Selvaraj and his team have identified a protein involved in this process and will investigate its potential as a therapeutic target to reverse motor neuron death.
Why this research is important
This project could open up a new potential treatment avenue to slow the progression on MND. We hope that it will generate the data needed to attract follow-on funding for onward development of the most promising compounds. This project is also supported by industrial partners at the UKDRI.
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