Presentation by Professor Chris Shaw & Guests – Auckland, 21st June

As part of MND Awareness Week 2019 (17-23 June) and to celebrate Global MND Awareness Day on 21st June, MND New Zealand invite you to join us for “An update on MND Research – Homegrown and Abroad” with guest speakers Professor Chris Shaw, Dr Emma Scotter and MND Registry Curator Kerry Walker. Afternoon tea will also be provided.

Venue: St Chad’s Church & Community Centre, 38 Saint Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland

Date & Time: Friday 21st June 2019 2pm – 5pm (Doors open at 1.30pm)

RSVP: To Claire Reilly, MND Community & Research Advisor by 6th June by email

Free entry, however donations to support MND New Zealand's valuable work are welcome on the day or via our website.

Bookings are essential as places are limited. The venue is wheelchair accessible and parking is available on site. If you have any special dietary requirements, please also let Claire know when you make your booking.

We hope to see you there!!

Speaker Profiles

Professor Chris Shaw is Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London. He is also Head of the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Director of the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute at King's College London and an Honorary Consultant Neurologist and Neurogeneticist at King's College Hospital.  His major research interest is in the genetic, molecular and cellular basis of motor neuron disease. Research led by Professor Shaw has identified mutations in two genes causing ALS, namely TARDBP and FUS. Professor Shaw conducted his clinical training in general medicine and neurology in New Zealand.

Dr Emma Scotter is the head of the Motor Neuron Disease Lab at the Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland. Her team, in collaboration with Professors Mike Dragunow and Richard Faull, researches various aspects of Motor Neuron Disease. Dr Scotter and her team have published articles revealing the higher death rates from MND than other countries using mortality data for New Zealand, and the presence of C9ORF72 and UBQLN2 mutations as causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in New Zealand. Dr Scotter in collaboration with Assoc. Prof Richard Roxburgh recently commenced a study which will perform genetic screening of people living with motor neuron disease in New Zealand.  In 2017 her team established the NZ Motor Neuron Disease Research Network with funding from MND NZ.

Kerry Walker is Curator of the NZ MND Registry. Kerry has worked in many areas of scientific research including, molecular biological lab research, clinical trials for new medicines and large-scale epidemiological studies. She has been involved in this Registry from its inception and manages all aspects of the study from ethics and regulatory requirements, to patient recruitment and data management.