089452/Z/09/Z: I Am Breathing

Project Summary:‘The Last Word’ is a documentary film following one man’s battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and one man’s quest to find a cure. Neil Platt was a charismatic and engaging 34-year-old father who within one year lost the ability to move. His extraordinary urge to communicate about the disease before losing the power of speech is heightened by his fears that the hereditary strain he has might affect his baby son. Neil died in February of 2009. 14 days later, Professor Chris Shaw - who diagnosed Neil - published details of research into how mutations in a gene called FUS cause familial MND. What implications for any future diagnosis and treatment do Professor Shaw’s discoveries have? Can he offer some hope?

Grant Holder:Ms Emma Davie

Organisation:Edinburgh College of Art

Financial Year:2008/2009