Consultant Neurologist and Research Lead for Adult Metabolic Medicine at Salford Care Organisation Professor Mark Roberts shone a light on how research and innovation have improved treatment options for people with rare diseases in a TV interview this week.
There are over 6,000 known rare conditions and 1 in 17 people will be affected at some point in their lives. Salford’s Mark Holland Metabolic Unit is a designated specialist centre offering treatment and management for adult patients with inherited metabolic disorders and is highly research-active, undertaking clinical trials into rare genetic disorders and drug development studies.
Prof Roberts, who appeared alongside colleagues from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said: “I’ve always been struck by that important mantra of rare, but potentially treatable. We want patient focused research to guide our treatments for today and more treatments for tomorrow.”
The film was part of a series filmed by ITN to mark Rare Disease Day, looking at different aspects of the impact of rare diseases and exploring advances in diagnosis and treatment.