What is Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and who is Michael Campbell?

MND is a progressive neurological condition affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness. Michael Campbell is a Belfast actor diagnosed with MND who is participating in a clinical trial.

Is there a cure for MND and what is Michael Campbell's treatment?

Currently, there is no cure for MND, but treatments can manage symptoms. Michael Campbell is part of a clinical trial testing a new drug designed to target a specific genetic mutation causing his MND.

How did Michael Campbell's role as Richard III relate to MND?

Michael Campbell adapted and starred as Richard III in a wheelchair, portraying a character recently diagnosed with a disability similar to MND, aiming to raise awareness for the disease.

Home / Health / Actor's Brave Battle Against MND with New Drug

Actor's Brave Battle Against MND with New Drug

7 Jan

•

Summary

Actor Michael Campbell is participating in a clinical trial for MND.
He has regained feeling in his toes after taking the experimental drug.
Campbell previously played Richard III in a wheelchair adaptation.

Belfast actor Michael Campbell, diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in February 2023, is participating in a clinical trial in Dublin. The experimental drug has shown encouraging results, with Campbell reporting a return of feeling in his toes, a significant development in his battle with the terminal neurological condition. This trial offers a glimmer of hope, potentially extending his life expectancy.

Campbell's MND symptoms first appeared three years ago while he was performing in a play, leading to his diagnosis. Despite the severity of the disease, which has progressed to the point where he now uses a wheelchair and is awaiting a tracheostomy, he has remained a public advocate. His adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III, which mirrored his own experience with disability, earned him a major drama award.

He and his sister, who also has MND, are part of a trial targeting a rare genetic mutation called FUS, which affects their family. Professor Orla Hardiman from Trinity College Dublin expressed cautious optimism about the trial's potential impact, noting that any sign of new movement is a significant cause for hope in MND treatment.