Research is a vital component of what we aim to achieve at The Neurology Support Centre. Natalie’s Story outlines her passion for, and excellence in, research and we aim to promote research in the area of neurology on an ongoing basis with the ultimate goal of bettering the lives of patients suffering a neurological condition.

We have set up a post-graduate Bursary which will be jointly funded by the Neurology Support Centre and the Atlantic Technological University (ATU). This will allow a student to undertake a 2 year research project at ATU in an agreed area of neurological research.

This will be conducted in collaboration with ATU and Sligo University Hospital, both organisations that Natalie worked for when she moved back to Sligo in 2001.

Information is power. In the neurological world, information is key in driving research, treatment and assessing results.

Surprisingly, in Ireland most medical records are still held on paper, making it difficult to get a full picture of incidence and treatment of specific conditions.

We are planning to facilitate the analysis of the Neurology database of Sligo University Hospital, with a particular focus on MS patients initially. Gathering an accurate source of information is viewed as vital in progressing the work of the Neurology department.