Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive disorder of the central nervous system, with approximately 5000 people affected at any one time in the UK. Prominent symptoms include loss of muscle bulk, swallowing difficulties, slurring of speech and shortness of breath, all of which lead to severe disability and a shortened lifespan. At present, treatment is aimed primarily at alleviating these symptoms because we do not understand the way in which this disease causes the death of nerve cells that control movement (called motor neurones). Dr Sathasivam’s project will investigate mechanisms of this nerve cell death in cell models and tissue-based studies. Increasing our knowledge of how motor neurones are damaged will allow the development of better and more effective treatments for patients with MND.