RESEARCHERS in York will lead a study into the care of people living with Motor Neurone Disease.

The University of York and St Leonard’s Hospice are leading the research, which will inform national practice, and they say it is crucially important as there is no cure for MND and more than half of those with the condition will die within two years of diagnosis.

Despite this, little work has been done so far to look at the palliative care required for people in this position.

The research stands to improve the lives of the 5,000 adults affected by MND in the UK at any one time.

Dr Kate Flemming, from the department of health sciences at the university, secured the research funding from Marie Curie and the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

She said: “I am delighted that the department and St Leonard’s Hospice have the opportunity to work together on one of only three projects funded by the new research collaboration between Marie Curie and MNDA. The results will tell us more comprehensively from the perspective of people with MND and their carers what helps them most. This will inform and improve current palliative care services, while also highlighting future policy and research priorities so that people with MND and their families can get the best support possible.”

The research will look at the needs of patients and carers in addition to identifying gaps in existing research.

Bill Hulme, medical director at St Leonard’s, said: “St Leonard’s Hospice is delighted to be working in collaboration with the University of York."