Debbie Bird

ALT We are surprised and disappointed with Steve Barclay’s comments about access to the £50 million promised by the Government for targeted MND research. We are unclear which bids the Secretary of State is referring to as our coalition partnership has only submitted one so far. This was met with glowing reviews, regarded as extremely high quality and, indeed, was funded in full, although most of those funds came from the charities involved in our coalition. We would welcome a face-to-face meeting with Mr Barclay to clarify this situation, enabling us to work together to ensure the funds are allocated efficiently and effectively without researchers being tied up in red tape. People with MND are desperate for progress and as we have always said, do not have time on their side. Time is of the essence. The support the scientists are receiving from the patient community has shaped research plans and we are all keen to see this move forward as quickly as possible. We are United to End MND.