MRC CoRE RND Launch Event
The MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND) held its formal launch event on 4th November 2025 at the University of Oxford’s Museum of Natural History.
The event brought together Principle Investigators and members of their teams from across the MRC CoRE’s component research organisations (the University of Oxford, Cardiff University, Newcastle University, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Imperial College London), alongside industry and charity partners and senior representatives from the Medical Research Council. It provided an opportunity to celebrate the inception of the MRC CoRE, strengthen connections across its diverse research and innovation community, and share its ambitious vision for the next 7-14 years. MRC CoRE Director Professor Peter Magill (University of Oxford) introduced the MRC CoRE’s Challenge. Professor Martin Tisdall (Great Ormond Street Hospital) then shared the story of Oran Knowlson, a young person living with a severe form of epilepsy whose groundbreaking treatment highlighted the potential of emerging neurotechnologies to improve quality of life, and the importance of integrating perspectives from patients and their carers into all research and innovation activities.
The day also showcased the MRC CoRE’s broad interdisciplinary research programme and its commitment to creating the conditions for cutting-edge collaborative research. Sessions explored how leading experts in neuroscience, clinical research, engineering and neurotechnology would work together to seize untapped opportunities to regulate and restore neural dynamics through transformative improvements to medical device-based therapy. Discussions also emphasised the shared commitment to fostering a positive research culture, embedding Patient and Public Involvement throughout the research process, and to building strong partnerships across the wider UK and international research and innovation ecosystem.
The launch marked the beginning of a shared endeavour to transform medical device-based therapies for brain disorders. Over the coming years, the MRC CoRE team will work to harness neural dynamics and next-generation neurotechnology, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
