Promising MND research from the University of Queensland in early stages

We congratulate University of Queensland (UQ) researchers and their international partners on the development of R8Y, a drug that could lead to clinical trials of a potential anti-inflammatory treatment for motor neurone disease (MND) in the next five years.

While promising research advances like this continue to emerge in Aotearoa and around the globe, there is still no cure and very limited treatment available for people living with the disease.

This UQ research has attracted significant media and public interest in Australasia, particularly given the heightened awareness of MND following the death of Fight MND Founder Neale Daniher, and the MND diagnosis of 30-year-old NRL forward Jai Arrow.

“The potential of this research is exciting. However, it’s in the early stages of development with many years of work ahead, including patient studies, before it could be considered for clinical use,” says MND NZ Medical Advisor and Neurologist James Cleland. 

“We will continue to follow progress closely. While advancements like this bring hope, it’s important to remember that translating promising discoveries into effective treatments can take a long time.”

To learn more about exciting research developments register now for our upcoming webinar with Dr Rick Bedlack, a world-leading MND/ALS researcher from Duke University, hosted by James Cleland and MND NZ CE Mark Leggett. There will be Q&A session at the end of the webinar. Medical professionals and the MND Community are invited to attend. Topics include:

• ALS/MND subtypes (ex. Genetic vs. sporadic, upper vs. lower motor neuron predominant)
• Tofersen for SOD1 ALS/MND
• Real world data on riluzole
• Dextromethorphan/quinidine for bulbar dysfunction
• Respiratory strength training exercises
• High glycaemic index diet
• Avoiding GLP-1 modulating meds
• Research on targeting other ALS/MND causes
• Understanding outliers