Neale Daniher’s fundraising helps Australia lead world in MND research

AUTRALIAN researchers are at the forefront of finding a cure for motor neurone disease, thanks to the fundraising efforts of footy legend Neale Daniher.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and AFL legend Neale Daniher. Picture: Getty Images

AUSSIE researchers are leading the way in the global fight to find a cure for motor neurone disease.

Florey Institute Associate Professor Bradley Turner says the funding initiatives led by footy legend Neale Daniher have transformed the Australian MND research landscape and helped unlock greater opportunities for scientists, ­creating a research blueprint for others to follow.

It comes as the footy community prepares for Big Freeze 4 at the MCG on Monday.

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All 18 coaches have pledged their support for the fundraiser and it’s hoped this will boost the funding pool by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

More than $30 million has been raised by FightMND since it was formed four years ago.

“What this funding has done is bring tomorrow’s technologies to us today,’’ Prof Turner said.

“The use of stem cells and robotics for drug screening is something we simply wouldn’t have had access to without that kind of support.’’

Florey Institute Associate Professor Bradley Turner. Picture: Tim Carrafa

FightMND has invested its money in research, particularly programs led by Melbourne’s Florey Institute.

Almost $6.6 million was set aside for clinical trials, $6.8 million for drug development, $2.5 million for care equipment and $4.5 million for a world-first drug screening project.

The funding has accelerated discovery, development and testing of homegrown therapeutic drugs and cleared the way for potential availability of international clinical trials for Australian patients.

Meanwhile, Daniher became the first of 200 patients late last year to offer their own skin cells to be “reprogrammed’’ by scientists for drug screening.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and AFL legend Neale Daniher. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s rewarding to see so many MND patients willing to get involved in each research program,’’ Prof Turner said. “We have pioneered the drug screening program, which is now the largest of its kind in the world.’’

He said sporadic cases — patients who did not inherit the disease through their genes — were an often neglected area of research and a focus for the Florey Institute.

About 800 Australians die from the disease each year.

“We are attacking MND on every available front,’’ Prof Turner said.

“We always say the only hope for treatment is through research, and campaigners like Neale have helped empower us.’’

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