Researchers investigating why some people who carry a genetic variant known to cause motor neurone disease (MND) remain unaffected have received a FightMND grant of almost $1 million.
Dr Leanne Jiang, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and iPSC Core Facility Lead at WA’s the Perron Institute, is the Principal Investigator on a collaborative project to investigate why some people at genetic risk of MND do not go on to develop it.
“Changes in the C9ORF72 gene are the most common genetic cause of MND, but not everyone who carries the gene develops MND,” said Dr Jiang.
“For our project, we will use neurons grown from patients’ stem cells to compare gene carriers who have developed symptoms with those who remain healthy. By uncovering what protects some carriers, we hope to find ways to prevent MND in others.”
MND is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 2,800 Australians, with prevalence projected to double by 2050. There is currently no cure or effective disease-modifying therapy.
“If we can identify the molecular drivers of MND before disease onset, we gain a window into the earliest, most targetable stages of neurodegeneration, before motor neuron loss has occurred,” Dr Jiang said.
“I am truly honoured and grateful to receive my first FightMND grant, made possible by the generosity of so many Australians. Working alongside patients and a wonderful team, I’m excited to begin research that we hope will bring real change for people living with MND and their families.”
Dr Jiang, who is a Board member (Scientific Advisor) of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA, moved back to Perth after working at the University of Queensland with Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo and her team for four years in the UQ Centre for MND Research.
This collaboration brings together established and new partnerships across Australia and internationally. Partner researchers and associate investigators are based in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and London, UK.
Partner Researchers are Professor Merrilee Needham (Perron Institute and Murdoch University), Professor Alfredo Iacoangeli (Kings College London and Perron Institute), Professor Ryan Lister (Harry Perkins Institute), Professor Sue Fletcher AO and Dr Ianthe Pitout (Murdoch University), Ms Jordana Sheahan (Harry Perkins Institute). Associate Investigators are Associate Professor Albert Lee (Macquarie University, Sydney), Associate Professor Frederik Steyn and Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo (University of Queensland, Brisbane), and Lisa Gregory who lives with MND.
The $969,888 project awarded in the Understanding MND stream is for three years. It will use existing nationally funded infrastructure across the Australian Genome Research Facility, WA Centre for Cell and Genome Engineering, and the National NeuroProteomics Facility FightMND Infrastructure.
FightMND announced their largest funding round to date, investing $30.6 million into 69 projects in 2026. This investment is supporting 54 researchers, including 28 researchers receiving FightMND funding for the first time.