Royal visit for new chair in motor neurone research

Professor Kevin Talbot gives his inaugural lecture as the new Chair of Motor Neuron Biology.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended a lecture today to mark the appointment of Professor Kevin Talbot to the new Chair of Motor Neuron Biology at the University of Oxford.

The position will support research into motor neurone disease with the aim of increasing understanding of this complex disease.

The establishment of the Chair, the first of its kind in the UK, is supported by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Trust. HRH The Princess Royal is the royal patron of the MND Association.

Professor Talbot said: ‘Growing a research and clinical team in Oxford, at one of the leading universities in the world, will allow us to harness some of the best biomedical science to fight motor neurone disease and continue to develop a true centre of excellence and an international profile.’

Motor neurone disease is a fatal neurological condition which kills five people in the UK every day. This little-understood disease can affect any adult at any age.

There are 5,000 people in the UK living with the condition, and the MND Association estimates that around half of patients will die within 14 months of receiving their diagnosis due to the rapid progression of the disease.

Professor Talbot’s research at Oxford University, with support from the MND Association, focuses on two areas.

His group works on creating new disease models in the laboratory to understand the biological processes occurring in the patient.

The team also searches for ‘biomarkers’, biochemical signatures unique to motor neurone disease that could speed up diagnosis and predict the pattern of disease progression. Biomarkers could also serve as a measure for assessing the effectiveness of drugs in clinical trials – an area in which Oxford is also developing considerable expertise.

Professor Talbot has developed one of Europe’s leading care and research centres in motor neurone disease.

"Growing a research and clinical team in Oxfordwill allow us to harness some of the best biomedical science to fight motor neuron disease."

Professor Kevin Talbot

The Oxford MND Care Centre based at the John Radcliffe Hospital was established in 2002 by Professor Talbot with a grant from the MND Association. It continues to receive financial support from the charity.

He and his team now see 150 new patients every year, 10% of all referrals in the UK, and have over 250 patients under active follow-up. It makes Oxford the second largest motor neurone disease clinic in the UK.

Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said: ‘It is terrific that Kevin Talbot has been appointed as the new Chair of Motor Neuron Biology. His world-class research is increasing our understanding of motor neurone disease, and his work at the Oxford MND Care Centre sees patients receive the best treatment and care. The MND Association’s support is crucial to all this work and we’re delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Oxford.’

Kirstine Knox, Chief Executive of the MND Association, said: ‘Under Professor Talbot’s stewardship as a clinician-scientist, Oxford is rapidly emerging as a major centre for care and research into motor neurone disease.

‘The establishment of the Chair of Motor Neuron Biology is the first of its kind in the UK and it is an honour to be able to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Oxford and to show her how the Association is strengthening translational research – moving ideas from the laboratory to the clinic and turning good science into patient benefit.’