The Health Secretary has said he is “fast-tracking” £50 million of funding for motor neurone disease (MND) research after the Government faced criticism for failing to release the promised money.
More than a year ago the Government committed at least £50 million to help find new therapies, and eventually a cure, for MND, a condition in which the brain and nerves progressively degenerate. But the Department of Health and Social Care was accused of withholding the research funding following the death of former Scotland rugby international Doddie Weir in November.
The Motor Neurone Disease Association said none of the money has been released to researchers. Rugby star Kevin Sinfield questioned why scientists cannot access the funding, while his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow – who also has MND – also accused ministers of holding back the cash.
