My Name’5 Doddie Foundation Achieves Full Membership with the AMRC

15 March 2024

We are proud to announce that My Name’5 Doddie Foundation has been granted full membership status by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) following our announcement in March last year that we became introductory members. Achieving full membership demonstrates our dedication to supporting the most promising science and adhering to the best practices in research funding, peer review, and actively involving those affected by MND in everything we do.

Reflecting on the past year

Over the past year, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation has made significant strides in supporting research for MND. Our research strategy “Catalysing a Cure” was launched in April 2023, alongside our first competitive grant scheme, which will drive forward a focused portfolio of translational science to expedite the development of new treatments (check out our research portfolio). The recent announcement of the Discovery Network, a new effort to foster collaboration and open innovation in the search for new treatment avenues, signals our continued commitment to exploring new approaches to accelerate progress.

Our adherence to AMRC’s principles of peer review has ensured that all the research we’ve funded meets the highest standards of quality and relevance. By involving people affected by MND in everything we do, we ensure that our efforts are grounded by their needs and priorities.

Aligning to the AMRC's principles of expert review

To become full members of the AMRC, we have to adhere to their principles of expert review. Here’s how these principles shape our processes:

• Proportionality: Our reviews are designed to be as thorough as needed; we ensure that the level of scrutiny is appropriate for the size of the award.
  
  
• Independence: We rely on advice from specialists who are not part of our staff or trustees, ensuring decisions are made without internal bias and reflect a broader perspective.
  
  
• Diversity: Our review panels are composed of experts from various backgrounds, including academia, industry, healthcare, and people with MND, ensuring a wide range of insights and experiences are considered in our funding decisions.
  
  
• Rotation: The members of our review panels are on a fixed term. We embrace a dynamic approach to decision-making.
  
  
• Impartiality: We have a strict conflict of interest policy in place to prevent any undue influence on funding decisions, ensuring that our processes remain fair and unbiased.
  
  
• Transparency: We openly share our research strategy on our website (learn about it here) and the details of our review process, including who the reviewers are (learn about it here). 

By embracing these principles, we aim to foster an environment that is robust, fair, and adaptable, enabling us to support groundbreaking research that reflects the diversity and complexity of the communities we serve. 

Looking ahead

As a full member of the AMRC, we will continue to leverage the opportunities for influence, connection and support that AMRC membership provides, driving positive change and fostering collaborations that will accelerate the path to effective treatments for MND.

Jessica Lee, Director of Research at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation said “Achieving this milestone is more than a mark of credibility; it is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of many people. We would like to extend a special thanks to our Research Review Committee who dedicate their time and expertise to ensure every application for funding is rigorously reviewed. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to our mission of funding, guiding, and enabling the smartest, most efficient research to expedite the development of new treatments for MND.” 

We are grateful for the support of the AMRC and the wider research community, and we look forward to continuing our journey with renewed enthusiasm and unwavering dedication to excellence.