The fund supports a range of neurological conditions in the Midlands. Further details of how we support researchers, clinicians and patients is described in detail below.
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The range of neurological conditions researched is vast and included stroke, head injury, dementia, brain tumours, spinal tumours, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease and a variety of disorders producing chronic pain, such as neuralgia and migraine.
Projects are identified by respected medical staff and expert researchers who are involved in the care of patients. The conditions that they see are often experienced by millions of people across the world and the potential treatments could be life-changing for them and their families.
We support this research, building upon the specialisms in the locality, building the knowledge base and opportunities for medics to create excellence in treatment.
Funds are spent in an efficient way to deliver results, supporting pilot studies and innovation that lead to major impacts in patient care and treatment. Get involved and your donation will make a real difference to the innovative way people can be treated when dealing with complex and challenging illnesses. Click the button below to find out how.
This project aimed to develop a laboratory model to study spreading depolarisation — a wave of disrupted brain activity that can occur after serious conditions such as stroke or traumatic brain injury.
Using brain tissue, we examined how this process happens and tested potential treatments. When the tissue was placed in low-glucose conditions, similar to what can occur in critically ill patients, recovery from spreading depolarisation was significantly worse.
Importantly, we discovered that coenzyme Q10, a widely available dietary supplement, improved recovery in this model. This finding suggests that coenzyme Q10 could potentially help protect the brain in patients experiencing this type of injury, although further research is needed.
Dr Olivia Grech University of Birmingham
Co- investigators / Supervisor: Dr D. Fulton, Prof G. Lavery, Prof A. Sinclair.
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This project tested if light-based therapy (photobiomodulation) can change how damaged nerve cells and immune cells in the spinal cord respond after injury, in a way that helps recovery.
We studied changes in gene activity in the injured spinal cord after treatment. The therapy increased activity in genes involved in nerve growth, energy production, and cell communication, and reducing genes linked to cell death, stress, and inflammation.
These results suggest that photobiomodulation helps nerve cells produce and use energy more normally. This reduces harmful stress and inflammation after injury and supports nerve fibre regrowth.
Mr Andrew R. Stevens, University of Birmingham
Co- investigators / Supervisor: Mr D. Davies, Dr M. Hadis, Prof. M. Milward, Prof. Z. Ahmed, Prof. A. Belli, Prof. W. Palin.
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