The writer's undisclosed donation will help fund the £2.5million project at Edinburgh University. Scotland has the highest prevalence of MS in the world, with about 10,400 sufferers. Around 85,000 people in the UK have the condition, which affects the central nervous system. Rowling is patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland. Her mother died in 1990 aged 45 after suffering from MS.

"It means a great deal to me to be able to provide support for this much-needed research centre," she said. "It is an extremely exciting step forward in the ongoing battle to try to unlock the mysteries of MS and which will hopefully, one day, lead to a cure." The MS centre should be up and running later this year. Scientists hope the centre will strengthen links with other British and international MS experts. The MS Society Scotland has given £2.1m towards the project and director Mark Hazelwood said the charity was "enormously grateful" to the author.