Lex Bailey’s legacy enshrined as new machines fast-track MND research at hospital

Community donations totalling $175,000 have funded cutting-edge motor neurone disease research equipment at Toowoomba Hospital in memory of beloved businessman Lex Bailey.

The legacy of legendary Garden City businessman Lex Bailey has been enshrined at the Toowoomba Hospital, with the installation of two machines to fast-track research into motor neurone disease that was fundraised by the community.

The new transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) machine, which was installed at the hospital last month, was purchased by the Nerve Connection Foundation after Mr Bailey’s family successfully raised $175,000 from residents and philanthropists like Clive Berghofer.

Mr Bailey, who passed away at 77 in 2024 after being diagnosed with MND the year prior, was the celebrated owner of Bailey’s Store who was heavily involved in community activities and a former president of the famous Downs Club (which hosted the fundraiser on June 7).

Lex Bailey announces the closure of iconic Toowoomba store Bailey's, Saturday, January 12, 2019.

In an update to members, the foundation director Dr Rob Henderson said the machine would be used by Toowoomba neurologist Dr Ehsan Shandiz as part of his PhD research.

“The novelty of his PhD is that he is combining biomarkers that examine the upper (TMS) and lower motor neuron pathways (high-density surface EMG) that are destroyed in MND,” the report said.

“Dr Shandiz submitted a research proposal to the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service ethics committee for approval.

Highlights from the Lex's Legacy long lunch fundraiser at the Downs Club, raising money in memory of Toowoomba businessman Lex Bailey.

“The initial review identified some helpful suggestions and we made some changes and have resubmitted a response.

“This is an essential step for any medical research project (and) we are expecting a response in mid-December.

“Dr Shandiz will travel to Sydney early in 2026 to upskill on the latest techniques as applied to MND research (with) the goal to develop a biomarker that can assist in the earlier diagnosis and monitoring of MND.”

The original fundraising goal of $175,000 was also to purchase a navigation component, at a cost of about $85,000, to help researchers use the TMS machine to its full potential.

However, Mr Henderson revealed clinical advice from leading Australian neurologist Professor Steve Vucic suggested that element would not be required.

“It became clear that the navigation component was not necessary for the type of diagnostic research we propose conducting with the TMS Machine.

“Instead, Dr Shandiz is successfully locating the required brain area manually in 5–7 minutes – an accepted clinical method for research and endorsed by national experts.

“Choosing not to purchase the navigation system was a conscious, responsible, and expert-informed decision, made to preserve donor funds and maximise the project’s impact.”

Instead, the foundation has agreed to buy for the hospital a high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) machine, at a cost of about $60,000.

“This equipment is vital to enable all aspects of the research to take place in Toowoomba, as required by the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service ethics committee, and pairs with the TMS machine to generate the comprehensive data needed for biomarker development,” Mr Henderson wrote.

“This HD-sEMG machine is now critical to delivering the research outcomes we promised – namely, building evidence to support earlier diagnosis and tracking of MND.

“We believe this represents an effective and responsible use of donor funds, ensuring the project delivers on its full potential and proceeds without delay.”

Amelia Bailey with a portrait of her father, the late Toowoomba businessman Lex Bailey.

It is not clear what the remaining $25,000 will be put towards.

Toowoomba Hospital’s acting executive director Karen Gordon praised Mr Bailey’s daughter Amelia and Mr Berghofer for help the foundation raise the funds.

“Hosting this technology at Toowoomba Hospital represents a significant step forward for regional MND research capability,” she said.

“Darling Downs Health staff will use the machine in structured research sessions led by neurologists and supervised by national experts.”

The hospital’s first TMS machine was installed in 2023 and has been used as an option for people with treatment-resistant depression.