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What We Fund

Our aim is to help Queen Square maintain its reputation as an international centre of neurological excellence. We do this by funding state-of-the-art equipment, major building programmes and life-saving research – above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

Our funding is grouped into six distinct areas. You can also make a donation directly to that area.

Queen Square

New facilities and smaller staff-led projects at The National Hospital and the Institute of Neurology

The National Hospital in Queen Square is one of the world’s leading centres for the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with neurological and neuromuscular conditions. The Institute of Neurology has a world-class reputation for neuroscience. Its mission is to translate neuroscience discovery research into treatments for patients with neurological diseases, including stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), brain cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia among many others.

In 2013 we created the Small Acorns Fund to give staff a chance to apply for funding to fast-track smaller scale projects that have a big impact on patients. Our aim is to raise £30,000 a year so we can respond effectively and quickly to projects ranging from £500-£10,000 at The National Hospital and The Institute of Neurology.

Current initiatives in this funding area include our New Home for Neuroscience appeal and The Small Acorns Fund.

Neurodegeneration

Supporting projects which help people with conditions where there is progressive degeneration

Neurodegenerative conditions are often incurable, debilitating and result in the death of nerve cells. They include Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, prion disease and motor neurone disease.

The charity has supported a number of projects in this field including the creation of the Dementia Research Centre ​and its associated Dementia Research Fund.

Current initiatives in this funding area include Rare Dementia Support which we fundraise for via the Rare Dementia Support Fund, with the aim of increasing the number of specialist support group services for people living with, or affected by a devastating rare dementia diagnosis. Alongside this, we have committed to raise funds to create a Rare Dementia Support Centre as well as for research projects at the Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases. We have also provided funding for a clinical lead for Motor Neurone Disease, and a biomedical translational scientist post for mitochondrial diseases.

Neurosurgery

Providing state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for the largest neurosurgery unit in the UK

The National Hospital is renowned as a centre of neurosurgical excellence. The unit provides a local, national and international service for specialised neurosurgical problems such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders and pituitary tumours.

We raised over £3m to establish the first brain tumour unit in the UK, increasing the ability to run clinical trials and creating the first dedicated ward, the Molly Lane Fox Unit. This was recently doubled in size to cope with increased demand. The unit is a beacon for specialist care aimed at increasing survival rates and improving quality of life for adults with brain tumours, and a hub for patients to take part in the latest clinical trials to find treatments for brain cancer.

In addition, as part of a major £23m upgrade of the existing theatres at The National Hospital, we raised £4m to fund the creation of a new Complex Spinal Theatre, along with a new ward, and offices for neurosurgeons.

Current initiatives in this funding area include surgical navigation system for skull base surgery and developing a ‘smart’ instrument for keyhole brain surgery

Neurology

Funding initiatives to improve diagnosis, treatment and provide dedicated facilities for those with ongoing neurological conditions

People can be affected by neurological disorders from birth or as a result of injury or illness. Many are life threatening, most of them severely affect people’s quality of life and many cause life-long disability. The conditions that fall under this category and which are treated at The National Hospital include multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, and mitochondrial diseases, among many others.

We recently raised £1.5m to create a new interventional neuroradiology service for stroke at Queen Square. This will improve the prospects for any stroke patients, reducing disability and helping many more back to leading normal, everyday life.

Current initiatives in this funding area include the Aphasia Appeal, the Neurorehab Unit makeover, and the Long Covid and Auto Immune Encephalitis Service. We raised £1.4m towards the creation of The Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and provide ongoing funding for its research programmes. You can donate here. We also supported the consultant neurologist role for The National’s Kennedy Disease clinic and a clinical nurse specialist for epilepsy at Queen Square.

Technology & Innovation

Supporting projects which aim to translate groundbreaking ideas into better results for patients

To maintain Queen Square’s reputation as a pioneering centre of neurology, it’s essential to invest in cutting-edge technology and innovation. We fund large-scale projects such as The BrainSuite, which is a combined system of Operating Room tools. It provides surgeons with instant real-time scanning in the operating room, reducing re-operation and recurrence rates.

We also raised £1.3m for the Neuroimaging Analysis Centre, which supports the review of imaging of over 40,000 patients per year. Smaller technological projects are important too, and we have helped to fund iPads that can be used to inform patients visually about procedures, including lumbar punctures, and for clinicians to assist with patient flow and discharge, along with apps to support speech therapy.

Current initiatives in this funding area include the  Innovation Fund, Immunotherapy Appeal and the NeuroResponse project.

Education & Staff

Invest in training and education to provide the best opportunities and attract the best people in the field

We fund research fellow posts, award prizes to outstanding students at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and encourage staff excellence at The National Hospital. We have enabled the redevelopment of the Rockefeller Medical Library, which marked a real turning point by providing on-site training facilities, a purpose-built archive and a museum. The library now gets more than 40,000 visits from students, researchers and clinicians each year.

Current initiatives in this funding area include Nursing and Allied Professional Fellowships and three PhD studentships investigating different aspects of frontotemporal dementia.

£11.3m has been raised in the last five years

This has helped to fund a huge variety of projects in Queen Square to benefit patients

Where Next

What we fund
Events and Challenges
A Letter in Mind

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The National Brain Appeal
3rd Floor
Ormond House
26/27 Boswell Street
London WC1N 3JZ

020 3448 4724
info@nationalbrainappeal.org

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marie.mangan@nhs.net

 

Registered Charity No. 290173. A limited company registered in England. No. 01844281