Since 2014 FightMND has invested more than $115.78 million into research and cure initiatives in pursuit of a world free of MND.
Our Impact: from Beanies to breakthroughs
Our investment in 2024
In 2024, FightMND is investing $18.89 million into motor neurone disease (MND) research and care initiatives for people with MND.
Of this, we’re investing $15.44 million into MND Cure research, supporting 25 projects and five career development awards, including:
- 4 drug development projects to advance promising new drugs or therapies
- 7 discovery projects addressing key unknowns in MND research, particularly its causes and progression
- 11 Improving and Accelerating Translation (IMPACT) projects focusing on overcoming challenges in MND drug development and clinical trials
- 2 infrastructure projects to advance MND research infrastructure
- 1 Massey Charitable Trust grant
- 1 mid-career research fellowship to support mid-career researchers focusing on MND
- 4 early career research fellowships to support early career researchers focusing on MND.
We’re investing a further $3.45 million into 10 MND Care support projects for Australians living with and affected by MND.
More details can be found in our 2024 Cure and Care Investment booklet.
Meet our researchers
Dr Margreet Ridder
In MND, motor neurones are overactive. This is detrimental to their health and leads to their death. Dr Margreet Ridder is researching whether a gene therapy that slows down motor neuron activity improves their health and prevents MND.
Based at the University of Queensland, Dr Ridder is the inaugural recipient of the Dr Ian Davis OAM Award. The Award recognises and celebrates research excellence and innovation in his honour. It is awarded to the top-ranked grant of the year.
Dr Ridder is a first-time recipient of FightMND funding.
Beyond the Beanie: a decade of impact
Every Beanie sold or donation made brings us one step closer towards treatments, and one day a cure, for MND.
For 10 years we’ve united in the fight against the Beast that is MND. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Australia’s research landscape has transformed. Today, Australia stands as a central hub for MND research, with our dedicated researchers playing a crucial role in the global effort.
Beyond our investment in research, we are committed to improving the lives of Australians living with MND, their families, and caregivers through our investment in Care initiatives. We work closely with Australia’s MND Associations, and the wider MND community, to invest in initiatives to support those living with MND and their families.
Learn more about our decade of impact in Beyond the Beanie.
Contact us
As we continue to fight against the Beast and seek to find a treatment and cure, we would love to hear from you about how you may be able to get involved. Our team are ready to help in anyway they can.