In 2006 researchers from the Hebrew University in Israel isolated a variant of the virus that causes Newcastle disease, a highly contagious disease in birds that can kill.

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The County Durham-born former England and Newcastle manager has fought the disease five times.

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The County Durham-born, former England and Newcastle manager is battling the disease for the fifth time.

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The Newcastle team said their research showed the disease did not need to be a life sentence.

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Clinical trials at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle showed Glivec could successfully treat the disease.

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The former England manager, who is battling the disease for the fifth time, has helped set up a research unit at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

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