MND NZ announces first Research Grant Round

Motor Neurone Disease NZ (MND NZ) is delighted to announce our first Research Grant Round. We are calling for applications from academics, allied health professionals, and those who work in related areas who haven’t done MND research before, with three grants of up to $10,000 each available. Applications close at 5pm on 27 November 2026.

These grants are to encourage research to improve evidence-based care, support and potentially even treatment for people with motor neurone disease (MND). The MND NZ Research Strategy 2025–28 provides more detail about the goals of these grants and the types of research that we will consider contributing to, from disease mechanisms to through to patient management and the experiences of those living with MND and their whānau.  

Grants are for MND-specific research projects, and can support postgraduate fees, summer studentships, or co-funding for MND-specific research within a larger research programme.

Applications are encouraged from:

• Academics working in MND-related areas
• Allied health professionals who work with people with MND, working in conjunction with an academic
• Those who work in related areas who haven’t done MND research before.

MND-related work areas include health sciences (including speech & language, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nutrition, respiration), neurology, nursing, and palliative care.

The NZ MND Registry, funded by MND NZ, is also a rich source of information. It is used to support research including surveys, observational studies, and recruitment for clinical trials; information is carefully protected and deidentified. A researcher can contact the MND Registry via the curator, Dr Margaret Ryan: ; 0800 MND REG (0800 663 734).

Applications for the 2026 MND NZ Research Grant round close at 5pm on Friday 27 November 2026. Research grant applications are reviewed and approved by the MND NZ Research Grant Committee. Up to three grants will be allocated in this round.