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Federal government announce $2m for motor neurone disease research

The Albanese government has revealed it will boost efforts to find a cure for motor neurone disease with a $2m investment to support innovative research projects.

Jade GailbergerFederal Political Editor

@JadeGailberger

less than 2 min read

June 10, 2024 - 4:30PM

A favourite event on the football calendar returns: the famous Zurich Walk to the ‘G. Taking place this year on Monday 10 June, the annual walk coincides with FightMND’s Big Freeze Match, a game that sees the league and wider community rally around Melbourne great Neale Daniher in his fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The Albanese government will bolster efforts to find a cure for motor neurone disease with a $2m investment to support innovative research projects.

The federal funding, announced during Neale Daniher’s iconic Big Freeze match on Monday, will provide a vital boost for the testing of potential medicines and treatments.

It will also increase collaboration and patient monitoring throughout clinical trials, in a bid to build knowledge about what causes the group of diseases that damage the nerve cells controlling muscles we use to speak, move and breath.

When the nerves eventually die, the muscles can no longer be activated, prompting them to gradually weaken and waste away.

Neale Daniher with senior Essendon players captain Zach Merritt, Darcy Parish, Sam Draper and Andrew McGrath. Picture: David Caird

Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney said two Australians were diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) every day.

“A key weapon in fighting MND is research,” she said. “Labor is proud to make this multi-million dollar investment to support MND research.

“I urge everyone — put on a Big Freeze beanie. Show your support. Working together, we can defeat this beast.

Both Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last month commended Neale Daniher for his incredible work to find a cure.

Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne. Picture: Nicki Connolly

In a speech to the parliament, Mr Dutton described the former AFL player and coach as “an inspiration”, saying Daniher had been a man of action after receiving a MND diagnosis more than a decade ago.

“He has shown remarkable strength, courage and humility to put aside his own misfortune and dedicate his life to raising awareness, and importantly, raising money for MND research,” Mr Dutton said.

The Prime Minister joined Mr Dutton in praising Daniher, saying he was an “absolute hero” on and off the field.

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“He has shown enormous strength and courage in speaking about MND and raising funds for MND and in organising the charitable events in order to provide more awareness and greater knowledge of this terrible disease,” Mr Albanese said.

FightMND campaigns director Bec Daniher said they were grateful for this “generous investment” from the federal government.

“These funds help us make targeted investments into cutting-edge projects as we continue to chase a cure to beat the beast that is MND,” she said