Angie’s story, Xiaoyi’s mission: Honouring the past, powering the future of MND research
Angie Cunningham faced motor neurone disease (MND with remarkable strength. A world‑class tennis player, Vice President of Player Relations at the WTA, and devoted mother, Angie refused to let her diagnosis define her. Even as the disease progressed, she remained a powerful advocate. Using her voice to drive awareness, inspire hope and spark change.
“Angie had wonderful perspective,” recalls her husband and FightMND Co‑founder Pat Cunningham. “I remember her coming home from another work trip and commenting how she felt like she was missing out on special parenting moments. She decided to take a career break and focus her time with our two young daughters. Her perspective was, work will always be there, but those special moments with her babies would not be. We didn’t appreciate at the time just how important that perspective was.”
The Angie Cunningham Biomedical PhD Scholarship and Grant-in-Aid was created to honour Angie’s legacy. It reflects her deep belief in mentorship, curiosity and the power of research to create change. Awarded annually by FightMND, the scholarship supports early-career researchers pursuing bold, high-impact projects aimed at understanding, treating and ultimately curing MND.
A New Generation of Hope: Introducing Xiaoyi Liu
In 2025, the scholarship is awarded to Xiaoyi Liu, a PhD candidate at WEHI, supervised by Professor Melanie Bahlo and Dr Zac Gerring. Xiaoyi’s work focuses on one of the most compelling unknowns in MND research. Why some people with a high genetic risk go on to develop the MND, while others do not, or do so much later in life.
By analysing large-scale datasets, Xiaoyi is searching for genetic and molecular “modifiers” that could protect against the onset of MND. Her project goes further than traditional risk-factor studies by investigating people who remain symptom-free despite their genetic profile. “Many previous MND studies have focused on identifying genetic risk factors in diagnosed patients,” she explains. “But we still know surprisingly little about why some individuals at high genetic risk never develop symptoms. My project shifts this perspective towards resilience, studying those who carry strong-effect mutations but remain healthy, to uncover protective factors and modifiable pathways.”
Turning Data into Action
Xiaoyi was drawn to MND research because of the way the disease is shaped by genetics. Unlike many other neurological conditions that involve lots of tiny genetic changes spread across the population, MND often includes strong, clearly defined mutations. Making it easier to pinpoint which genes may be influencing risk. This opens real opportunities for discovery and, potentially, for developing treatments.
“Despite being a devastating condition, there’s hope hidden in the data,” she says. “With large population cohorts and deeply phenotype clinical datasets, a wealth of information could be mined to identify influential genes and protective mechanisms. That’s the foundation for targeted therapies, or even prevention.”
Xiaoyi’s project goes beyond simply identifying risk. It’s focused on translating those insights into practical solutions. By analysing a combination of genetic, molecular and biological data, including how genes are expressed, regulated and interact with proteins, Xiaoyi is working to find both new treatment targets and existing drugs that might be repurposed to delay or prevent MND.
“Ultimately, my work is about turning genetic insights into real-world hope for people at risk of MND.”
A Unique Perspective, Inspired by Angie
Angie Cunningham’s story continues to guide the values and vision behind the scholarship. Known for her resilience, compassion and clarity, Angie approached life and her illness with a commitment to what mattered most.
For Xiaoyi, Angie’s legacy is a powerful source of motivation. “I deeply relate to Angie’s courage, selflessness and unwavering hope,” she says. “Research, like MND itself, can be unpredictable and full of setbacks, but her story reminds me why perseverance and community matter so much. It inspires me to show up each day with compassion and purpose.”
Pat hopes that every recipient of the scholarship will take time to learn more about who Angie was. Not just the diagnosis she faced, but the life she lived. “We hope those supported by this program read the interview with Hamish McLachlan that appeared in the Herald Sun,” he says. “It provides an insight into, who she was, her wonderful perspective on life, her approach to the Fight against MND, and we hope they find motivation in her positivity and tenacity.”
What the Scholarship Makes Possible
Xiaoyi says the support from FightMND has transformed what’s possible in her research. “The FightMND Angie Cunningham PhD Scholarship gives me the freedom and security to fully dedicate myself to a multi-year, high-impact research project with real-world relevance,” she says. “It connects me with national resources like the SALSA Consortium and global biobank datasets I wouldn’t otherwise have access to.”
“More than that,” she adds, “it gives me confidence to be bold, to collaborate widely, and to build the skills I need for a career devoted to finding better answers for people living with MND.”
Pat says seeing the impact of the scholarship brings deep emotion to their family. “The emotion is best described as a blend of pride and optimism,” he says. “Pride in the impact the organisation is now having, including encouraging the next generation to join the fight. And optimism, knowing that there will be a day when we together defeat the Beast.”
The Bigger Picture: Why This Work Matters
Xiaoyi’s ultimate hope is that her research leads to delaying or even preventing the onset of MND symptoms. Giving families more good years together. She’s also focused on making discoveries that could fast-track affordable, safe treatment options already in existence, through drug repurposing. “This research quite literally saves time. Time with loved ones, time before symptoms steal speech, movement and independence,” she says. “Every dollar raised, every bit of support for FightMND, helps move discoveries out of the lab and into real life.”
For Pat, that’s exactly what Angie wanted. Real action, real impact, and real change. “On behalf of the family, we continue to be extremely grateful to the team at FightMND, and to the wonderfully talented recipients of the Scholarship and Grant-in-Aid, for allowing Angie’s legacy to continue to fight against the Beast in this way.”
Advancing Breakthroughs, Empowering Futures
Since 2014, FightMND has committed more than $117 million to pioneering research and comprehensive care programs that improve the lives of people affected by motor neurone disease across Australia.
Our focus is not only on groundbreaking discoveries but also on nurturing the next generation of researchers and clinicians. By investing in early-career talent, we’re building a strong foundation for continued innovation and hope in the fight against MND.
Thanks to these efforts, Australia stands at the forefront of global MND research. Driven by visionary scientists, cutting-edge ideas, and a passionate community united by a shared goal.
Curious about the latest advancements and the projects your support enables? Head to Our Impact page and see how together we’re transforming lives.