An appeal has started to raise £2 million by 2015 towards creating a world-class centre in Yorkshire to help tackle Parkinson’s disease, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Dementia.

The plea for support has come from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation which is behind the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre,which will cost £6 million in all.

Appeal director Clair Challenor-Chadwick said: “With an ageing population brain conditions will be a ticking time bomb in Yorkshire in the near future. To have a centre of excellence for brain research at Leeds means that patients do not have to travel out of the county.

“The centre will conduct research for patient benefit and will help Yorkshire scientists and clinicians find new treatments and drug therapies as well as conduct translational research, including clinical trials.”

Sir Robert Ogden CBE has donated £250,000 to the £2 million appeal for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre..

To donate online visit www.ybrc.org.uk or send a cheque payable to ‘Yorkshire Brain Research Centre’ to Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation, Trust Headquarters, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF.