A MAN whose healthy brain cells are being killed off by an inherited illness is one of thousands of people across Yorkshire and the Humber taking part in clinical trials to help people get better and develop new treatments.

Mark Barton, of Bingley, who was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 2014 hopes being involved in a study into his condition will help it be understood more by those trying to treat it.

The 31-year-old has samples taken of the liquid containing protein that circulates around and inside his brain.

Researchers at the Clinical Genetics and Neurology departments at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are using them to build up a database of information throughout the different stages of the disease which gradually reduces the number of healthy nerves in parts of the brain that control movement, behaviour and thinking.

Researchers still do not know how genetic Huntington Disease mutation causes the damage but the National Institute for Health Research-supported study hopes recruits like Mr Barton will help its researchers find out.

“It feels good to know that my participation in research will hopefully help somebody in the future,” said Mr Barton, whose dad Peter has also been diagnosed with the rare condition.

Figures show that 15,000 more people signed up for clinical trials in Yorkshire and Humber since 2015-16 making a total of 72,931 who have been taking part in research across NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups in the region.

Nationally, numbers are growing.

Mr Barton, who lives with his partner Alison and works as a statistical analyst for a cosmetics company, said: “Even if the research doesn’t help me, it could help others in the future. If there’s a condition out there which matters to you, do everything you can to find out about research.”

Mr Barton was 28 when, two years after his dad was diagnosed, he decided to get tested for Huntington’s because not knowing about his own status began taking a toll on him.

The test proved positive and he battled depression at first but said: “It was hard. I was signed off work for about seven months from the job with depression, which didn’t help, but I realised I had to do things now, while I physically still could, and that helped. I really want to travel now and I feel better since I’ve taken a new job.”

The study for Huntington’s is his second clinical study as he had to have a lumbar puncture to take part in the project.

He said: “I’ve been at home resting, and it feels good to know that, while I’m realistic and I know my participation in research is unlikely to help me personally, hopefully it will help somebody in the future.”

Mr Barton's message to anyone else considering helping research is simple: “Go for it,” he said.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been running 177 clinical studies in 2016/17 with 9,078 people taking part while Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has increased both its number of studies and number of participants by 25 per cent and has 20 studies with 788 recruits.