Shining a spotlight on UK innovation in MND research at the BNA Festival of Neuroscience 2025

We are proud to have supported a symposium at the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Festival of Neuroscience 2025, in partnership with MND Scotland and the MND Association. The session, titled ‘New approaches to diagnostics, biomarkers and trial drug selection in MND - highlighting UK MND translational research’, took place on Wednesday 30 April and shone a spotlight on the cutting-edge work that is happening across the UK to better understand, diagnose, and ultimately treat motor neuron disease (MND).

The symposium brought together leading experts and emerging early career researchers to share the latest scientific advances that are driving MND research forward. Co-chaired by Professor Martin Turner, a member of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, the session showcased the progress being made by the UK MND Research Institute - progress that offers hope for people affected by the disease.

Highlights of the session included:

• Professor Martin Turner (University of Oxford) who presented on EXPERT-ALS, a novel human drug prioritisation trial platform, launched in late 2024 to transform how potential MND drugs are selected for clinical trials.
• Dr Holly Spence (University of Aberdeen) introduced innovative RNA (ribonucleic acid) aptamer technology with the potential to revolutionise MND diagnosis - a much-needed tool for early detection and intervention
• Dr Puja Mehta (University College London) spoke about whether correcting cryptic exons - hidden genetic mutations - could open new doors for developing approaches to treatments for ALS
• Dr Jill Richardson from global pharmaceutical company MSD, and who is also Vice Chair of the Foundation’s Research Review Committee, wrapped up the session with a forward-looking overview of the MND treatment pipeline

The session reflected the collaborative spirit fostered by the UK MND Research Institute, which was launched in 2023. Funded by My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, LifeArc, the MND Association, MND Scotland, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the MND Research Institute is uniting researchers and clinicians to accelerate progress like never before.

For researchers across neuroscience - whether working directly in MND or not - the session was a rare opportunity to hear from some of the leading voices in the field, and to learn how innovations in MND research could influence neurodegenerative disease research more broadly.

The work showcased stands as a testament to what is possible when charities, scientists, and industry come together with a shared goal: a world that is free from MND.

As outlined in our research strategy, Catalysing a Cure, we partner with those who can help us achieve our vision, and were pleased to partner with the MND Association and MND Scotland on this session.