To Cure
Since we were founded in 2011, we have proudly contributed more than $3.1 million to MND Research, thanks to our community of supporters.
$3.1 M
Current MND Research
2024 Grant Recipients
Dr Rebecca San Gil
NTI MND Research Grant
Targeting protein aggregation in MND.
Disease onset in all cases of MND involves the accumulation of damaged proteins that stick together forming toxic aggregates that trigger motor neuron death. The proposed research program will take advantage of new genetic engineering and imaging techniques to shine the light on a target protein that refolds and disposes of damaged proteins in human neurons. Proof-of-concept experiments will demonstrate whether refolding damaged protein back into a functional protein can slow or stop disease progression. This work will identify new strategies in targeting protein aggregates to prevent neurodegeneration for future application to develop therapies for people living with MND.
Dr Hazel Quek
Fat Rabbit MND Research Grant
Microglia Diversity in ALS: Impact on Disease and Drugs.
Studying the complexity of immune cells, specifically microglia, in Motor Neuron Disease. Utilising a 3D cell culture model of MND microglia and employing single-cell RNA sequencing, our objective is to pinpoint distinct types of microglia and comprehend their unique roles in the disease. Additionally, we are examining how these cells respond to drugs, with the goal of enhancing our ability to treat MND more effectively.
Dr Thais Sobanski
David Deguara Research Fellowship
Modulating glycolysis activity to confer neuroprotection in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
This project will study how the breakdown of sugar for use as an energy substrate (i.e., glycolysis) can impact DNA repair in ALS. Defects in glycolysis and DNA repair pathways have been reported in ALS, but it is not known if the two pathways are linked. This project aims to understand how tweaking glycolysis activity could improve DNA repair and motor neuron survival. Outcomes will provide insight into the role of glycolysis in ALS and DNA repair, offering a new direction to identify novel interactions and targets to develop new treatment options to improve the prognosis for people living with ALS.
Dr Andrew Tosolini
Col Bambrick MND Research Grant
Connecting the dots between the powerhouse of the motor neuron and their vulnerability in MND.
In MND, certain types of motor neurons are more susceptible to disease than others, but the cause of this selective vulnerability is not yet known. This project focuses on how the functions of mitochondria (the cells powerhouse) and metabolism (conversion of fuel into energy) are altered in motor neurons in MND. For the first time, we will use innovative technology to assess how clinically, or near-clinically, available drugs/compounds affect the mitochondria in motor neurons prone to disease. This project will result in crucial new knowledge about disease causes, which can improve the designing of new therapies for MND.
Dr Alain Wuethrich
Murray Geale MND Research Grant
Developing a new nanotechnology to track ALS.
To date, it has been difficult to develop therapies for ALS because there are few reliable biomarkers that can tell us about diagnosis, disease progression and outcome, whether someone will get ALS, and how someone with ALS responds to drug treatment. This project aims to develop a new nanotechnology for blood-based measurements of extracellular vesicles – the body’s natural nanoparticles – to see if they can provide key information to support diagnosis, and tracking of disease progression and outcome. We hope that this can also be used in future for testing drug responses in clinical trials.
2023 Grant Recipients
Dr Fleur Garton
Scott Sullivan Research Fellowship
Dr John Lee
NTI MND Research Grant
Dr Lee focusses on innate immune and inflammatory pathways including the complement system and inflammasomes in Motor Neurone Disease.
Current therapies are lacking and hence there is an urgent need for new research to identify new therapeutic targets and approaches to slow or halt disease progression. Dr. Lee’s research has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of multiple anti-inflammatory drugs targeting innate immune-mediated neuroinflammation to reduce neuronal cell death in animal models of neurodegenerative disease. He also has an emerging interest in the links between the immune system, stress response, and energy metabolism in neurodegeneration.
Dr Margreet Ridder
Fat Rabbit MND Research Grant
Dr Adam Walker
Col Bambrick MND Research Grant
Dr Frederik Steyn
Murray Geale MND Research Grant
Dr Ridder is working with her team to express their novel neuronal silencing receptor in motor neurons of MND mice. By trialing the drug activated receptors, the team are hoping to reduce neuron hyperexcitability and increase motor neuron survival.
If effective in increasing motor neuron survival, their receptor is already optimised for human clinical use and is activated by Ivermectin, a safe FDA-approved drug.
Dr Adam Walker is identifying enzymes that modify the pathological proteins (TPD-43) that accumulate in nerves of people with MND.
By testing human neurons grown in a dish, as well as brain samples, these experiments aim to identify new approaches to stop pathology forming. In the future, this work could guide the development of new drugs to treat MND.
Dr Frederik has created a more precise assessment of energy expenditure in MND patients and has set up a research platform to better analyse hypermetabolism’s role in the progression of MND.
He studies which factors impact patient outcomes and disease progression, such as metabolism and the burden of the disease, as well as the consequences of appetite loss and impaired body weight regulation. In conjunction with these studies, he collaborates with industry to develop new treatment approaches for MND and is working on refining digital health technologies for improved monitoring of disease progression and the effectiveness of therapy on disease outcomes.
A cure is out there, it just needs to be funded.
Clinical Trials and Research Opportunities
MND Research Institute Australia (MNDRIA) is the research arm of MND Australia. The MNDRIA was established in 1984 as a national organisation promoting medical and scientific research into MND. The organisation has been driven forward by the vision to understand the causes, find effective treatments and discover cures for MND.
Here you will find current clinical trials that are recruiting in Australia.
Contribute to MND research AND have the chance to win Bonnie!
Enter for your chance to win a satin black customised 1946 Ford Jailbar 4×4 Dual Cab with all of the mod cons! Bonnie is valued at $200,000 and tickets start at only $20. Drawn on Sunday, 7 July 2024.
