Yorkshire Brain Research Centre appeal launched

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation has launched an appeal to raise £2 million by 2015  a final total of £6m to create a world-class Yorkshire Brain Research Centre.

The Centre will help tackle Parkinson’s disease, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Dementia including Alzheimer’s.

Multiple Sclerosis patient Bill Tucker said: Any kind of research is bound to have some effect on finding a cure or a means of preventing MS and hopefully other neurological conditions.

Currently 1 in 6 adults suffer from diseases of the brain. In Yorkshire the number of people over 65 is due to increase by almost half in the next 20 years to close to 1.3 million with the number over 85 rising 90% to 220,000. The medical community needs to be able to respond to the increase in people living with brain conditions. By 2030 there will be a 20% increase in Parkinson’s disease alone, while numbers of dementia patients will soar by 80% – there are already 58,000 people in the region with the condition.

Appeal Director Clair Challenor-Chadwick said: With an ageing population brain conditions will be a ticking time bomb in Yorkshire in the near future. To have a centre of excellence for brain research at Leeds means that patients do not have to travel out of the county. The Centre will conduct research for patient benefit and will help Yorkshire scientists and clinicians find new treatments and drug therapies as well as conduct translational research, including clinical trials.

The Yorkshire Brain Research Centre will help attract the very best clinicians and scientists from around the world to train and study at Leeds and grow a strong neurosciences community for the benefit of patients in Yorkshire and beyond. The Yorkshire Brain Research Centre will mean we will have better diagnosis, better treatment and better outcomes for patients in Yorkshire.

Philanthropist Sir Robert Ogden CBE is the Patron of the new fundraising campaign he said: I am proud to support the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre appeal to help build on the centre of excellence at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Bringing scientists and clinicians together to conduct clinical trials is of critical importance to benefit not just Yorkshire, but the world. Brain conditions are one of the biggest challenges we will face this century. I urge the people of Yorkshire to support this appeal for the benefit of this and future generations.

To donate online visit www.ybrc.org.uk or send a cheque made payable to ‘Yorkshire Brain Research Centre’ to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation, Trust Headquarters, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF. Or you can text 88811 and the word BRAIN to make a £5 donation today.