The nerve cells which control muscles are called motor neurones. Motor neurone death occurs in a variety of conditions including spinal muscular atrophy and Motor Neurone Disease (MND). MND patients suffer a progressive muscle paralysis, the disease is invariably fatal and, so far, there is no way of preventing the process of nerve cell death. Dr Pullen will be trying to find out why these nerve cells die by investigating the blood of MND patients. This has been shown to contain specific active enzymes which might activate biochemical pathways which cause nerve cells to self-destruct. This research should help in the future design of suitable forms of treatment for diseases such as MND.