MND Collections cell lines
Managed by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, the MND Collections Cell lines are easily accessible to researchers studying motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MND/ALS) and developing new treatments. You can browse MND Collections Cell Lines.
Background
Between 2003 and 2012 the MND Association collected over 3,000 blood samples from people with MND, their families and spouse controls. These samples are stored as DNA (at the Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research (CIGMR), University of Manchester) and a subset of these are available as EBV-transformed lymphocytes stored at THE UK Health Security Agency’s Culture Collections.
Cell lines and data
In 2015 the MND Association carefully selected 193 of these transformed cell lines to create larger, fully authenticated, quality tested cell banks (known as the familial range). The cell lines selected were created from people with the rare, inherited form of MND/ALS, also known as ‘familial MND’ and a small number of control participants. The remainder of the Cell lines collection (the sporadic range) includes more control participants and people with the non-inherited form of MND/ALS, also known as ‘sporadic MND’.
Gene mutations present in the Cell lines collection include: C9orf72, SOD1, FUS and TARDBP. There are also rarer gene mutations available, please contact the MND Association to discuss further.
All of the samples are accompanied by a minimum data set, and most samples have much more comprehensive data associated with them, including medical test results and MND-specific functional rating scales (eg ALSFRS-r).
Role of the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC)
Our role in the project, as ECACC, is to create and maintain these banks. Although the entire collection of over 2,900 MND cell lines is available to researchers, these 193 selected lines provide the starting block for researchers working in the field of MND/ALS research.
How to order MND collection cell lines
We have prepared a detailed guide from ECACC on how to order MND collection cell lines. Please follow the instructions here.
Accessing cell lines
The MND Association is the custodian of this collection and all requests to access the samples must be ratified by their Biomedical Research Advisory Panel. Cell lines are only available for research on MND/ALS and related conditions such as fronto-temporal dementia (FTD). Please use the following pages to browse the familial range, and pick a potential sample list. Once you’ve selected your samples and submitted your order to ECACC, the MND Association will be in contact to discuss the application process.
Cell lines from the sporadic range can be accessed by making enquiries directly to the MND Association. More information on the MND Collections Cell lines is available on the MND Association’s website.
Fees
Cell lines in the MND Collections are free of charge to researchers at academic institutions; however, there is an administration fee of £90 per order and routine delivery charges apply.
Application form
Please complete and submit the Application Form.
Terms and Conditions
Please ensure to read through our Terms and Conditions for Use.