30 November 2011 Ralph Warren, President of MND Australia and Glen Doyle on behalf of the Gadigal tribe welcomed delegates to the 22nd International Symposium on ALS/MND in Sydney, Australia.
The International Symposium, organised by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, is regarded as the premier event in the MND research calendar and is the world’s largest scientific and medical conference focusing on the disease.
Following a welcome song from Mr Doyle who wished the delegates safety in their travels and a hand of friendship, Mr Warren concluded the opening remarks, commenting on the awesome programme that has been arranged, giving delegates opportunities to learn and participate in the deliberations over the next three days.
So far, 650 delegates from 33 countries have walked through the doors to this year’s conference, signifying just how valued the International Symposium is within the global MND clinical and research communities.
The programme for the event contains a varied platform of debate, discussion and information-sharing, which represents the energy and dynamism of the MND clinical and research communities. As a result, the conference is the place where researchers, clinicians, and health and social care professionals, gather to discuss their work, their progress and their achievements on the journey to a world free of MND.
This year there will be 84 speakers from 12 different countries as well as 248 scientific and clinical posters which will be displayed around the symposium. At large meetings like this, scientific and clinical posters provide a vital opportunity for researchers to discuss their work face to face with delegates.
Dr Brian Dickie, director of research development at the MND Association who plays a key role in organising the symposium every year, said: “It is so important to bring the international research and clinical communities together to exchange knowledge and information on the latest advances in understanding and treating the disease.
“Holding the event in Australia, for only the second time in the 22-year existence of the event, draws new people into the international MND research community, bringing new ideas and expertise to the field and fostering new alliances in the fight against this devastating disease.”
You can keep up to date with the latest from this year’s symposium by reading our research blog.
Contact:
Louise Coxon Communications Manager
01604 611843 / 07760 765142
louise.coxon@mndassociation.org Notes to editors
The International Symposium on ALS*/MND
ALS - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the most common form of MND and the name that it is known by in the USA.
