UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE DISCOVERY

Early day motion 1215, tabled 8 March 2016 by Chris Law (Scottish National Party). Signed by 40 members.

That this House recognises the work of researchers at the University of Dundee who have identified a key mechanism that damages the cornea in Meesmann epithelial corneal dystrophy, a rare blinding disorder which is passed from parents to their children; notes the collaboration of scientists at the University of Dundee, University of Ulster and colleagues in Denmark who have discovered that faults in a gene that is responsible for corneal cell structure and stability lead to protein misfolding and cell death; commends Fight for Sight, Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council whose funding in the UK has made this discovery possible; and welcomes this crucial evidence which is a key factor in determining whether gene or stem cell therapies can be developed.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 33, Labour 3, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.