Advanced Neurotherapies Centre to lead the charge against neurological disease across the UK

The Advanced Neurotherapies Centre (ANTC) officially launched at the Hadyn Ellis Building in Cardiff, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of brain disease research and therapies. 

The event celebrated the £2.9 million investment from Health and Care Research Wales and offered an overview of the centre’s evolution over the past decade, from its inception as the former Brain and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit, to its growing role in delivering novel therapies for neurological conditions and supporting brain repair in patients. 

Speakers included Dr David Fluck, Executive Medical Director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Professor Anne Rosser, Deputy Director, Advanced Neurotherapies Centre, Professor Leslie Thompson from University of California Irvine, along with industry partners and patients, who shared their insights and experiences related to neuroscience research and neurotherapies.

Professor William Gray, Director of the ANTC and Senior Research Leader at Health and Care Research Wales, welcomed the renewed funding and reaffirmed the centre’s mission. He said: “With this continued support, we will expand Wales’ capability to develop and deliver pioneering therapies for neurological conditions.”

Speaking at the event, Professor Gray emphasised the urgent need to overcome obstacles that impede the clinical translation of promising therapies. He said: “Many early-phase trials fail due to ineffective and poorly quantified delivery. This is a critical gap that the ANTC is uniquely positioned to address.”

ANTC is one of only five centres globally and the only one in the UK with the expertise and research excellence to address these challenges and optimise therapy delivery. He cited the ASPIRE-FTD trial as an extraordinary example, which uses MRI-guided infusions of gene therapies for people with frontotemporal dementia.

Professor Gray added that the centre also remains committed to its mission to improve outcomes for people living with complex brain diseases. Its work continues to focus on advancing safe and effective neurotherapies through cutting-edge research and clinical trials targeting conditions such as Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Gareth Cross, Deputy Director of Science, Research and Evidence at the Welsh Government, said: “Reflecting on its progress and milestones, the Advanced Neurotherapies Centre has proven to be a world-class facility at the forefront of advancing brain disease therapies, placing Wales in a unique position to transform care pathways for patients.”

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