Motor Neurone Disease (MND) | Neurology

Overview

Motor Neurone Disease is a progressive degenerative neuromuscular disease with limited treatment options and no cure. A lack of useful disease biomarkers may also delay diagnosis. Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Neurologists Dr Robert Henderson and Professor Pamela McCombe have a special interest in MND and oversee the MND Clinic bimonthly. Together, with the MND Clinical Nurse Consultant, they provide patients and families with clinical support and services. The Neurologists also oversee multiple investigator-led and clinical trials in the MND and neuromuscular area.

Research

Dr Henderson oversees the MND Research team consisting of the Research Fellow, University of QLD (UQ) research scientists, a UQ neuropsychologist and nurses. The team collaborates nationally and internationally with other interested groups. A dedicated MND Research Clinic is conducted weekly for patients and families to meet the research team, discuss the current research projects including clinical trials (if applicable) and ask any questions which may help them decide if they would like to participate. The aim of MND Research is to improve diagnosis, gain insight into the causes and progression of MND and assess the effectiveness of potential treatments.

Current investigator-led MND research projects include a range of investigations into changes in energy metabolism, appetite, cognition and behaviour, and the role and impact of genetic and environmental factors. This includes the examination of patient neurones created from patient skin cells. These neurones are studied alongside patient muscle biopsies to improve our understanding of the metabolic perturbations of cells commonly impacted by MND, and for responses to various stimuli including potential drug therapies. The department also participates in the Australian MND Registry and the Sporadic ALS Systems Genomics Consortium to provide de-identified clinical information to the national database and in clinical trials to investigate new compounds or repurposed medications as potential therapies for the disease.

Research teams

Senior Researchers – Dr Robert Henderson and Professor Pamela McCombe from RBWH and Professor Naomi Wray from UQ
Metabolism/Stem Cell Research Group – Dr Shyuan Ngo, UQ
Metabolism/Appetite Research Group – Dr Derik Steyn, UQ
Neuropsychology – Ms. Amelia Ceslis and Associate Professor Gail Robinson, UQ
Program in Complex Trait Genomics – Professor Naomi Wray and Dr Fleur Garton, UQ