Introducing the new Chair for our Translational Research Review Committee

We’re pleased to welcome Professor Paul Matthews as the new Chair of our Translational Research Review Committee (RRC). 

Paul takes on the role as Professor Richard Mead steps down after a period of outstanding leadership. As our first Chair of the RRC, Richard’s expertise was fundamental to helping us establish a strong, independent approach to how we assess and fund research - ensuring every decision is focused on impact for people living with MND. We are incredibly grateful to him for his guidance, commitment and time during his three year tenure as Chair.

What is the RRC?

The RRC plays a very important role in deciding where we spend our money. Set up in 2023, its members have the important job of reviewing the funding applications that come through our grant schemes, and providing recommendations to our Board of Trustees on which projects we should fund.

The committee consists of 26 members, made up of a number of experts with diverse backgrounds and expertise. This ranges from pre-clinical scientists working on basic disease mechanisms to industry scientists working on drug development. Importantly, we also have people living with and affected by MND involved in the review process. This helps reinforce the focus and sense of urgency to develop therapeutics that can change the course of this brutal disease, and ensures the MND community remains at the heart of everything we do.

Meet our new Chair: Professor Paul Matthews OBE

Paul currently holds the following positions: Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra Professor of Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics at Imperial College London, and a Group Leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial.

His research focuses on neuroinflammatory mechanisms of neurodegeneration, using epidemiology, MRI and PET imaging, and molecular ‘omics approaches. This work is now translating into clinical studies exploring how mitochondrial and vascular dysfunction may accelerate disease progression.

Paul trained in basic science, medicine and neurology at Oxford, Stanford and McGill, and has led research teams both in academia and industry. He has served on a wide range of national and international advisory panels, most recently as Chair of the UKRI MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board (2020–2024). He was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to neuroscience.

Importantly, Paul’s experience from outside of the MND field brings a new perspective and allows us to apply learnings from a closely related field.

When we asked Paul why My Name’5 Doddie Foundation interested him, he told us: “Motor neuron disease is devastating - but I believe it will be one of the first major neurodegenerative diseases for which a cure is found.”

Paul points to the progress already made through targeted gene therapies, emerging combination approaches and RNA-protein directed strategies - alongside innovation in clinical trial design that could help treatments reach people faster.

When Doddie created the Foundation, he was clear that love, fun and hope should always sit at the heart of everything that we do. We asked Paul what each of these words meant to him:

Love: “The resilience of people living full lives despite chronic illness and disability.”
Fun: “Babies - my grandchildren!”
Hope: “The commitment of people with MND, their families and researchers worldwide to finding a cure.”

Paul joins us at a time of real momentum in MND research. With his depth of experience across discovery science, clinical translation and research strategy, we’re confident he and our continuing Vice-Chair, Dr Jill Richardson, will help us continue guiding bold, focused investment. That starts with leading the review of the Catalyst Award applications, which close at the end of this month.

To find out about the other members of our Translational RRC, visit Our Experts page.