The Annual Stephen Hawking MND Lectures were launched in 2017 – and are now an established and important part of the Association’s calendar.
The aim of the Annual Stephen Hawking MND Lecture is to bring current research in motor neurone disease to members of the multidisciplinary team and demonstrate how this might feed into their practice. Lectures are led by experts in their field, and these engaging and popular events attract hundreds of health and social care professionals, including delegates from across Europe. The lectures are held in the evening and online to make attendance as open as possible.
Our thanks to the Stephen Hawking Foundation for their funding support.
Registrations open for the 2025 Annual Stephen Hawking MND Lecture:
The genetics of motor neurone disease: why does genetics matter for people living with MND?
We are delighted to announce that Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi, Professor of Neurology and Complex Disease Genetics, will deliver this year's lecture. The session will explore the role of genes in MND, including:
- the relevance of genetics for anyone living with MND, and their family members, including unaffected relatives
- how genetic testing may help predict or diagnose MND
- how genetic knowledge is shaping treatments
- how to discuss genetics in your practice and how to support people with and affected by MND with genetics-related decisions.
The lecture will take place as a hybrid event on 4 November 2025, and it is open to both health and social care professionals and people with MND. It will be live-streamed online and delivered in person at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, where attendees will also have the opportunity to join an evening reception for drinks and networking.
Please note that in-person places are limited due to venue capacity and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Don't miss out - visit the link below to book your place!
Last year's lecture
2024 The importance of psychological care: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – a proven intervention that supports quality of life.
Held on 12 November, the lecture explored the psychological impact of MND, with a focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to improve quality of life for people with MND.
The session was led by Rebecca Gould, Professor of Psychological Therapies in the Division of Psychiatry at University College London, and an Honorary Clinical Psychologist at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust.
Her main research interests are in developing and evaluating psychological interventions, particularly third-wave therapies such as ACT and mindfulness-based interventions, for people living with and affected by physical and mental health conditions. Among her recent work, she was the chief investigator of the ground-breaking COMMEND research study - a clinical trial examining the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ACT for improving quality of life in people with motor neurone disease, compared to multidisciplinary usual care.
During the lecture, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the importance of psychological support for people with MND, including the relevant recommendations outlined in NICE Guideline NG42. They were also introduced to the principles of ACT and how these can be applied to their practice in MND care.
Previous lectures
You can watch videos of previous lectures below:
- 2023 MND – Planning ahead for effective person-centred care
Bee Wee CBE, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Sobell House and Katharine House Hospice, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Associate Professor at University of Oxford and Non Executive Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. - 2022 Communication in MND: How can we have better conversations?
Professor Steven Bloch, (PhD, MRCSLT, SFHEA), Professor of Communication and Social Interaction in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, and University College London, Vice Dean Education, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London. - 2021 MND - Delivering person centred care at end of life
Dr Idris Baker, Consultant in Palliative Care, Ty Olwen Hospice, Morriston Hospital, Swansea and National Clinical Lead for palliative and end of life care in Wales. - 2020 Effective MND respiratory care
Dr Rónan Astin BA Hons MRCP PhD Consultant in Respiratory and Ventilation Medicine, at University College London Hospital (UCLH). - 2019 Nutrition in MND – could getting it right make a difference?
Professor Christopher McDermott, (MBChB, FRCP, PhD) Head of Department and Professor of Translational Neurology, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). - 2018 Cognitive and behavioural symptoms in MND: defining the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Frontotemporal Dementia (ALSFTD) spectrum
Professor Eneida Mioshi, Chair of Dementia Care, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia.
