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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.
