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Alan Davidson Foundation renews funding for ground-breaking motor neuron disease research at Oxford

As part of its renewed commitment, the Alan Davidson Foundation will continue to fund a full-time project manager to facilitate the ongoing coordination and growth of the ACORN study. The foundation is also contributing to the cost of a research fellow to support the next phase of the project.

Motor neuron disease researchers in a lab © NDCN Oxford

The Alan Davidson Foundation has renewed its generous commitment to motor neuron disease (MND) research at Oxford by supporting the ACORN study for a further three years. This renewed funding builds on the foundation’s original donation in 2021. 

The ACORN study, led by the Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and supported by Oxford University Hospitals through the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, focuses on individuals with a genetic predisposition to MND and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The project aims to detect early biological changes that occur before the onset of symptoms, contributing to a deeper understanding of these devastating conditions and improving the chances of early interventions.

The Alan Davidson Foundation was founded in 2015 by the late Alan Hayes Davidson RIBA, a pioneer in architectural illustration and visualisation. Diagnosed with MND in 2012, Alan dedicated the final years of his life to supporting research and improving palliative care. He established the foundation to ensure long-term support for initiatives in these fields, as well as in architecture. Since his death in 2018, the foundation has ensured the continued impact of Alan’s legacy through strategic grant-making and partnerships, particularly in the area of MND research.

Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences website

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