Four universities are set to receive £1m each to carry our research into motor neurone disease (MND) thanks to a charity set up by late rugby player Doddie Weir.

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation said the money would go towards an “open science framework” so findings were shared among researchers worldwide.

The investment, known as the Discovery Network, will go to the University of Oxford, King’s College London, University College London, and the University of Edinburgh.

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MND affects about 5,000 people in the UK at any given time and there is no effective treatment or cure.

Dr Martina Hallegger, who leads the University of Oxford project, said it was “a game-changer for MND research”.

“By working closely with teams across the UK and internationally, we can align methodologies, share expertise, and accelerate progress in understanding this devastating disease,” she said.

“This commitment to collaboration ensures that discoveries are more accessible, comparable, and impactful for the entire MND research community.”