FightMND brings the world’s best MND minds together for Roundtable event

At FightMND we know that our best weapon in the battle against motor neurone disease (MND) is research. In any fight, there are moments of success but there are also challenges. Research is no different. Today, MND researchers face challenges in progressing their work to find effective treatments, and a cure for MND. One way we can address these barriers is through collaboration.  

From 28 to 30 August, FightMND is hosting its inaugural Global MND Research Roundtable in Melbourne, Australia. The Roundtable brings together world-leading neurologists, geneticists and cellular biologists in the MND field along with strategic and collaborative leaders, people with lived experience of MND, industry and funders from outside MND. With a strong focus on international collaboration and capturing diverse perspectives, the Roundtable has invited delegates from around the world. This includes Canada, the UK, the US, New Zealand, Switzerland, Malaysia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Australia. 

The purpose of the Roundtable is to address some of the biggest challenges preventing researchers from transitioning their research into effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for MND. These themes were developed based on feedback from the global MND research community. They include: 

  • Disease heterogeneity. Understanding the variability and genetics in a person’s disease. 
  • Disease fundamentals and drug targets. Understanding the fundamentals of the disease to develop drugs to target MND.  
  • Patient stratification and classification. Ways to help guide patients to the right clinical trials. 
  • Biomarkers. To develop a diagnostic test, as there isn’t one, and a way to measure how a disease is progressing. 
  • Global collaboration. Ways for researchers around the world to collaborate on projects focusing on MND.  

During the Roundtable, delegates will work together to discuss and develop a series of outcomes. These outcomes aim to address the barriers faced by MND researchers and accelerate progress towards effective treatments and a cure for MND. 

We would like to thank our Roundtable sponsors for their support. Major sponsor and dinner sponsor Teva Pharmaceuticals, welcome event sponsor Perron Institute, lunch and morning tea sponsor Murdoch University and lunch sponsor Alithia Life Sciences.

The Roundtable would not have been possible without all of the support from the Australian community during the Big Freeze and beyond. Whether it is through buying a Beanie, donating and everything in between. The FightMND team would like to thank you for your support. It is thanks to you that we can bring these leaders together for such an important event. 

Stay tuned over the coming months as we share updates on the outcomes of the Roundtable with all of you.