Clinical trials are expensive to run and with several more neurology clinics taking part, it has created an additional challenge by increasing the cost of running the trial beyond the original generous grants from the European Commission and the French Health Ministry.

Professor Nigel Leigh explains “We can’t cut too many corners. It’s important to make sure the trial is not only carried out to the high standards required by the regulatory authorities, but also that we take this fantastic opportunity to get as many answers as we can to crucial scientific questions about how the disease operates.”

Several organisations (ARSLA, MND Association, MND Scotland, Généthon and The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation) have stepped in to fill the gap, agreeing to support different aspects of the study. These include supplementing the costs of incorporating additional clinics, sustaining Clinical Trial Manager posts, supporting the biobanking resource and analysing blood samples collected from patients taking part in the study.

“We are deeply grateful that so many organisations have agreed to generously help us take this challenging but vitally important trial through to its conclusion.” adds Dr Bensimon. Without this additional support some of our important research goals would have been impossible to achieve.