Extracellular vesicles for earlier diagnosis
Dr Rebecca Saleeb and Professor Mathew Horrocks, University of Edinburgh
Catalyst Award
Improve translation
November 2026 - October 2027
£91,797.27
Summary
Most people with MND are diagnosed only after symptoms appear. Researchers are therefore searching for biomarkers that could reveal the disease at an earlier stage. One promising biomarker is TDP-43, a protein that is found in the wrong place in motor neurons and forms harmful clumps in most cases of MND.
Dr Rebecca Saleeb and her team aim to develop a blood test that can detect these disease-associated changes in TDP-43. They will focus on tiny particles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are released by cells and carry a sample of their contents. Some EVs travel from the brain into the bloodstream, providing a window into disease processes in the nervous system.
Using highly sensitive imaging technology, the researchers will examine thousands of individual EVs to identify rare signs of disease-associated changes in TDP-43 that could otherwise be missed. The team will then test whether this approach can distinguish between people with and without MND.
Why this research is important
Earlier diagnosis is a major challenge in MND. If successful, this work could lead to a simple blood test that detects disease-related changes before substantial nerve cell loss has occurred, helping people access specialist care, support and potential treatments sooner.
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