Global MND Roundtable continues to drive collaboration

Inaugural Global MND Research Roundtable in Melbourne, Australia, August 2024

International collaboration and alignment is crucial for advancing MND research. In August 2024, we hosted our inaugural Global MND Research Roundtable in Melbourne, Australia. The Roundtable aimed to address key challenges in MND research, including: 

  • understanding the causes and key features of MND and identifying drug targets 
  • understanding the variations occurring in MND 
  • defining ways to accurately classify the type of MND affecting a person 
  • developing biomarkers that quickly diagnose MND. 
Global MND Roundtable Highlights, August 2024, Melbourne

The Roundtable was a unique forum, challenging attendees to think outside the box. The event united MND researchers, global collaborative leaders and strategic experts, and those with firsthand experience of MND. It fostered a rich diversity of views to address important themes and create actionable outcomes. 

Delegates worked together to gather information and understand issues, break down the problems and identify and prioritise actionable solutions. Working together, delegates gathered information to understand issues and break down the problems. Delegates developed actionable solutions for each of the four key challenges. These fell into two distinct categories: 

  • Harmonisation: encouraging everyone to work together to align research efforts and build consensus. To focus on improving resource and knowledge sharing to better coordinate our approach to new efforts and initiatives. 
  • Standardisation: providing guidance on how to work smarter and more efficiently across all research stages to achieve better results. 

FightMND is now working with experts in the field to address these areas. This includes working with MND Australia and ALS Canada to develop a Global MND Research Acceleration Strategy. This Strategy outlines seven ambitious and essential goals to accelerate MND research through global alignment and cooperation:  

  1. centralisation of big data 
  2. collaboration on biobanking 
  3. global approaches to studying presymptomatic / asymptomatic patients 
  4. recommendations of what is best practice in MND research 
  5. decentralised human MND model core 
  6. biomarker best practices for preclinical studies 
  7. master protocol for clinical trials. 

FightMND is working to ensure this work complements the current MND landscape. This aims to avoid duplication and achieve the best results. We hope that by working together we will overcome major challenges in MND research. In turn, this will help speed up the development of effective treatments for ALS/MND. 

Delegates reunite at the 35th International Symposium on ALS / MND 

On 8 December 2024, FightMND, in partnership with MND Australia and ALS Canada, hosted the Global MND Research Roundtable breakfast in Montreal during the 35th International Symposium on ALS/MND. The event brought together leading experts, ALS/MND organisations, industry professionals and those living with the disease.  

The event saw FightMND grow its international collaboration, with 25% of attendees being new key opinion leaders.  

Attendees had the opportunity to share their thoughts on a range of topics, including the: 

  • 2024 Roundtable event 
  • Global MND Research Acceleration Strategy 
  • Principles of governance 
  • Best practices for effective working groups 

Delegates were invited to join a call in early 2025 to discuss each strategic goal and nominate members and Chairs for each working group. Stay tuned to learn more about these groups and their work under the Strategy. 

Looking forward to 2025 

We are committed to continue building on this collaboration into 2025. The FightMND team is working closely with Roundtable delegates and national and international MND associations to: 

  • create a white paper on the Strategy 
  • establish working groups for each of the seven goals for MND research. 

To tackle these important areas, each working group will bring together leading experts from various industries, along with those with personal experience of MND. While some may not be MND-specific experts, their expertise in related disciplines will provide valuable insight and a well-rounded perspective. 

The FightMND team is excited to share more about our work in this space in the new year. So, stay tuned!