A clinical research project aiming to identify an ’early diagnostic’ for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) has been launched.

It will examine protein aggregation biomarkers around this much misunderstood disease.

This 12-month project is being funded by the Manx MSA Trust, which wants the island to become a hub for better diagnosis of this illness.

The project was initiated by Courtenay Heading of Jurby Wellness by calling on the scientific expertise of: Protein Technologies headed by Dr Farid Khan and CynapseDX headed by Damian Bond.

The collaboration team is completed by consultant neurologist Dr Valeria Iodice along with her colleagues at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The ethics and Regulatory Compliance supervision is being undertaken by the Liverpool bio-bank for blood and human tissue in the UK, and it is hoped Manx patients will get an opportunity to take part, subject to Manx Ethics Committee recommendation and subsequent DHSC approval.

The Manx MSA Trustwas set up almost 18 months ago and has raised £70,000 so far.