Rowling Makes Huge Move for MS Research

JK Rowling's mother had multiple sclerosis and died from complications of the disease at age 45. Now, the Harry Potter scribe is making a big move to fight the disease: She's donating $18.8 million for new facilities at a research center named after her mom, the AP reports. The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at Scotland's University of Edinburgh was launched in 2010 with a $12.3 million donation from JK Rowling, the BBC reports. It also conducts research into other neurological conditions, including motor neuron disease (MND), Parkinson's, and certain types of dementia.

"When the Anne Rowling Clinic was first founded, none of us could have predicted the incredible progress that would be made in the field of regenerative neurology, with the clinic leading the charge," Rowling says in a statement. "It's a matter of great pride for me that the clinic has combined these lofty ambitions with practical, on-the-ground support and care for people with MS, regardless of stage and type; I've heard ... firsthand what a difference this support can make. I am confident that the combination of clinical research and practical support delivered by professor Siddharthan Chandran and his exemplary team will create a definitive step-change for people with MS and associated conditions." (More JK Rowling stories.)