Researchers initiate new non-invasive urinary test to fast-track drugs for Motor Neuron Disease

Researchers at Flinders University in South Australia (SA) and the University of Miami, US, have initiated a new non-invasive urinary test that can pick up signals of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in patients.

The test has the potential to develop better treatments for the deadly neuro-degenerative disease.

This test is planned to be used in clinical trials looking for improved drug treatments for MND or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Researchers noted that the test measures a key protein biomarker found in the urine of people with MND as the disease progresses.

Flinders University Centre for Neuroscience senior research fellow Dr Mary-Louise Rogers said regular and affordable testing of symptoms could lead to improved treatment.

Rogers added: "A standardised, easy-to-collect urine test could be used as a more accurate progression and prognostic biomarker in clinical trials.

"And in the future, it also could potentially be used to test people for early signs of pre-familial MND progression and used instead of patient questionnaires for regular testing of disease progress or drug suitability in existing MND cases."

MND leads to the slow death of the motor neurons or nerve cells that control muscle movements.

Flinders University Centre for Neuroscience researcher Stephanie Shepherd and her supervisor Dr Mary-Louise Rogers conducted the comparative study of the testing system on MND and non-MND patients in South Australia over the past six years.

The US National Institutes of Health Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia, Flinders University Centre for Neuroscience and Flinders Foundation, ALS Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, ALS Recovery Fund and Australian Rotary Health offered support to the study.