Supporting MND Care: Meet Dr Min-Yin Yap
In honour of International Women’s Day on 8 March, FightMND is celebrating the inspiring women working behind the scenes helping drive the fight against motor neurone disease (MND). Today, we’re introducing Dr Min-Yin Yap, FightMND’s Care Grants Manager. With a deep commitment to helping those supporting those living with MND, their families and their carers, Min plays a key role in directing funding for care programs and research.
In this interview, Min shares her professional journey, the importance of community support and the tangible impact of her work in the care and research space. She reflects on the challenges of ensuring equitable care for all and how her diverse professional background helps shape her approach to tackling complex problems.
What is your role with FightMND? What does it involve, and what is your favourite thing about it?
I am FightMND’s Care Grants Manager. My role involved overseeing our Care Program, which focuses on improving the lives of people affected by MND in Australia. This includes funding targeted support for people with MND, care-focused research and the development of national care guidelines.
My favourite part of the role is seeing tangible outcomes. Some investments can make a significant difference to people affected by MND in a short amount of time. I also appreciate that, more and more, research and care decisions are being guided by the needs and priorities of people living with MND, rather than being solely driven by experts.
What did you do before working with FightMND? How does your professional experience contribute to your current role?
Before joining FightMND, I worked as a biochemist in both academia and industry. However, research wasn’t the right fit for me, so I transitioned into roles that supported researchers in grant funding and project management across different sectors, including manufacturing and wildlife health.
My background in biomedical sciences has helped me understand MND, while my experience in grant management and stakeholder engagement supports my current role. A brief stint at a women’s health research centre exposed me to healthcare inequalities in Australia, which is relevant to the care of people living with MND. I’m not an expert in this field, but my diverse experience allows me to ask the right questions, identify issues and find solutions.
What are you currently working on for FightMND?
We’ve recently funded the development of MND care guidelines. My hope is that, in two years, we will have a set of recommendations that will improve MND care in Australia and reduce the inequities we currently see across the country.
We’re also working on a community survey in collaboration with MND Australia. The survey aims to identify the needs and priorities of people living with and affected by MND. It was co-designed with those affected by MND, clinicians and researchers. The results will be checked by the same group. We will use the findings to inform our updated care strategy later this year, ensuring it reflects the voices of people living with MND.
Your role involves working closely with organisations supporting those living with MND. How important is the support of the Australian community in the work that you do?
The support of the Australian MND community is crucial. I’m not an expert in MND care, so I rely on the community to identify gaps in the current health, disability and research systems. The conversations I have with people affected by MND help me make informed decisions about where to direct funding to areas that need attention or improvement.
Help FightMND support those living with MND
At FightMND, we recognise that while the search for a cure continues, the daily lives of those living with MND are full of challenges. That’s why we’re committed to investing in initiatives to improve the care and support for people living with MND, as well as their families and caregivers.
By focusing on care-centred research, we complement the work of state MND associations and organisations nationwide dedicated to improving the quality of life for MND patients.
However, this fight needs more than just research. It needs your support. Your generosity will help us:
- Fund essential care-focused research that drives the development of better MND care practices
- Improve the accessibility and quality of care for MND patients across the country
- Raise awareness of MND and its widespread impact on families
With your help, we can continue to push for progress and fight to defeat the Beast of MND.