By Dr Stefan Williams and Dr Stuart Currie

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

Every week, patients and families face the terrifying uncertainty of a possible MND diagnosis. The wait for a diagnosis can be agonising, not just emotionally, but physically, as symptoms progress.

That’s why, thanks to funding from Leeds Hospitals Charity, we’re both exploring new ways of diagnosing MND earlier, more accurately, and less invasively.

 

Stuart’s Project: Seeing the invisible with MR Fingerprinting

I’m Dr Stuart Currie, a Consultant Neuroradiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. My research focuses on a cutting-edge MRI technique called Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF). Unlike traditional MRI scans, MRF doesn’t just show us what the brain looks like, it tells us what it’s made up of.

By measuring subtle changes in brain tissue, we hope to detect signs of MND that are invisible to the naked eye. It’s a technique I’ve been developing with Professor Dan Ma in the US, and we’re now working with Professor Jurgen Schneider at the University of Leeds to bring this technology to our patients.

We’re aiming to start testing in early 2026, and if successful, this could revolutionise how we detect upper motor neurone damage in MND patients.

 

Stefan’s Project: AI and the power of a simple camera

I’m Dr Stefan Williams, a Consultant Neurologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. My project takes a different approach, using artificial intelligence and computer vision to spot the tiny muscle twitches that are early signs of MND.

Right now, we rely on a test called EMG, which involves needles and electricity. It’s uncomfortable and not always conclusive. But what if we could detect those same signs using just a smartphone camera?

Working with Dr David Wong and Dr Sam Relton at the University of Leeds, we’re training AI to analyse videos of patients’ limbs and tongues. It’s non-invasive, accessible, and could dramatically speed up diagnosis.

A Shared Vision

Both of our projects are rooted in the same belief: patients deserve answers sooner. We’re combining our clinical experience with the latest in imaging and AI to make that happen.

We’re incredibly grateful to Dr Agam Jung for her leadership and to Leeds Hospitals Charity for believing in our vision. And of course, to the public, for your fundraising and continued support which has made this possible.

Looking Ahead

The Rob Burrow Centre for MND is set to open in Autumn 2025, and we hope to begin recruiting patients for our studies in early 2026. This is just the beginning, we believe Leeds can lead the way in transforming MND diagnosis—not just in the UK, but globally.

We’re honoured to be part of this journey.