Welcome to the researcher noticeboard. Here you can find information on the latest MND-related news, grant deadlines, awards and meetings. To receive updates on current grants, awards and events relating to MND straight into your inbox, you can subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletter 'The Researcher'.
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Grant deadlines, awards and job postings
See MND Association grant page or view other grants and awards available to MND/ALS researchers below.
N3CR's: Non-animal methods infrastructure grants
The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of animals in Research has announced £4 million of funding is available for infrastructure grants that aim to accelerate the use of non-animal methods. These non-animal methods are ones that could replace the use of animals in research and testing procedures.
This funding call is exclusively for non-research proposals that will focus on increasing the capacity and capabilities of the UK research base to use non-animal methods.
Application Deadline: 30th July 2024
MRC: Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Grant
The Medical Research Council are offering research grants to support research projects focused on neurosciences and mental health.
Research projects can be looking at:
- neurosciences
- mental health
- disorders of the human nervous system
Applicants must be employed by a research organisation eligible to apply for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.
These grants aim to transform our understanding of the physiology and behaviour of the human nervous system throughout the life course in health and in illness, as well as how to treat and prevent disorders of the brain. This includes the interactions between the nervous system and other parts of the body, the brain, mental health and physical health.
Application Deadline: 17th September 2024
Frick Foundation for ALS research
The Frick Foundation is looking for talented early-career scientists who have already produced excellent supervised work, ready to work independently and shows potential to be a research leader. Two researchers will receive 100,000 Swiss francs each that can be used over 2 years. Researchers of any nationality with 5 years of experience since completion of their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal. Research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation (known as a Host Institution/HI).
Application Deadline: 30th September 2024
The Healey & AMG Center prizes for innovation in ALS
The Healey & AMG Center offers four prizes for innovation in ALS as global awards celebrating advances in research and care: the Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS, the Gupta Family Endowed Prize for Innovation in ALS Care, the Drs. Ayeez and Shelena Lalji & Family ALS Endowed Award for Innovative Healing, and the Drs. Ayeez and Shelena Lalji & Family Student Scholar Award for Repair and Regenerative Mechanisms in ALS.
The Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS Research recognizes an individual or a team of investigators who catalyze exceptional discoveries leading to a transformative advance in therapy development in ALS.
Gupta Family Endowed Prize for Innovation in ALS Care is a global prize to honor ground-breaking new approaches that lead to exceptional care for individuals living with ALS.
Drs. Shelena and Ayeez Lalji established the Endowed Award for Innovative Healing to recognize an individual or team of investigators for excellence in their transformative scientific discoveries focused on repair of neurological function in ALS.
Drs. Shelena and Ayeez Lalji established the Student Scholar Award for Repair and Regenerative Mechanisms in ALS to recognize bright young scientists in the field of ALS research facilitating meaningful projects to understand the mechanisms underlying axonal and neuronal repair and regeneration.
MND Scotland PhD Studentships
MND Scotland PhD Studentships intended to encourage graduates to embark on a research career within the area of motor neurone disease.
Applications are welcome from all areas of MND-relevant research.
Applications are expected to open soon.
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation Clinical Research Infrastructure Awards
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation have launched a new award called the Clinical Research Infrastructure Awards to ensure more people with MND can access clinical trials.
The awards aim to support clinical trial staff specialising in the delivery of MND trials. They will enable centres to either begin recruiting to MND trials for the first time, or provide additional capacity at sites that already recruit to MND trials that have the potential to expand their portfolio and increase recruitment numbers.
Applicants must be based in an NHS centre that either wishes to start recruiting to MND trials, or to expand its existing portfolio of MND trials.
Applications will open in August.
Events and meetings
See below for information on events that might be relevant to you.
If you would like us to help you promote funding deadlines, meetings, awards or any job opportunities, please email us at [email protected]
Australia and New Zealand MND Research symposium
MND Research Australia is hosting their 3rd Australian and New Zealand MND Research Symposium.
The two-day event will provide a unique opportunity for MND researchers and those with a lived experience of MND to collaborate, connect and learn.
This event is being held at the The Florey Institute, Melbourne on the 27-28 August 2024.
There is also an option to register to attend online.
Fifth UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre International Symposium
The Fifth UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre International Symposium will be held in London and online on Friday 6th September (9:30 - 18 GMT).
14th International Conference on Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFTD2024)
The 14th International Conference on Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFTD 2024) is scheduled for 19 - 22 September 2024 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The conference will cover basic science, through to clinical trials, genetics and clinical research.
A pre-worshop titled "Defining the FTD & ALS Spectrum" will be held on 18 September (9am to 13pm). This pre-workshop will look into the links between FTD and ALS, which are thought to represent the extreme ends of a complex clinical, pathological, and genetic spectrum. However, despite the concept of an ALS-FTD spectrum, in practice there remains minimal interaction and consensus between the FTD and ALS research communities. This lack of interaction risks duplicity or inconsistencies in our definitions of the biology and clinical concepts of ALS and/or FTD. Moreover, TDP-43 which commonly brings together ALS and FTD is also associated with aging and non-CNS disorders which challenge concepts from within our communities. This half-day workshop preceding ISFTD 2024 aims to help us learn from multiple perspectives both within the FTD and ALS communities and beyond.
35th International Symposium on ALS/MND
The key to defeating MND lies in fostering strong collaboration between leading researchers around the world, and sharing new understanding of the disease as rapidly as possible. This was the MND Association’s rationale behind the creation of the International Symposium on ALS/MND.
Each year, the Symposium attracts over 1,000 delegates, representing the energy and dynamism of the global MND research community. It is the largest medical and scientific conference specific to MND/ALS and is the premier event in the MND research calendar for discussion on the latest advances in research and clinical management.
The 35th Symposium will be held in Montreal, Canada from 6-8 December 2024.
There is an option for virtual registration which includes access to a select number of predetermined live-streamed sessions, the virtual poster hall and on-demand access to all sessions after the event.