Exploring open-innovation for Motor Neurone Disease

Perhaps you read my op-ed in the Telegraph and learnt that I have been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). At this point in time, I’m committed to continuing to lead Challenge Works, with the support of Nesta and my senior leadership team, who have stepped up in day-to-day business management.

With this in mind, I am pleased that we are exploring how an open innovation competition for MND (also commonly called ALS in the USA) could make a difference to discovering effective treatment. It would be possible to expedite drug discovery if we had the right tools and funding, in a competitive space to make rapid systemic change. This could also have knock on effects across drug developments across other diseases.

I am excited to be putting some of the expertise we have built at Challenge Works since I founded it 11 years ago towards this. This is clearly an underserved area in drug development and policy that needs rapid innovation, so watch this space.

If you have ideas or funding opportunities and want to get involved, get in touch directly here. 

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