13 March 2025 News
Planning is underway for the MND Association’s 36th International Symposium on ALS/MND, to be held in San Diego from December 5-7. More than 1500 delegates from 48 countries attended last year’s Symposium in Montreal and online, with most attending in person and the overall number including 22 people affected by MND through the Patient Fellows Programme.
The International Symposium on ALS/MND brings together leading international researchers, and health and social care professionals to present and debate key innovations in their respective fields. It plays an important role in facilitating the exchange of exciting new knowledge and information as well as stimulating new ideas and partnerships.
Over 90% of delegates who attended our Montreal Symposium made new contacts or collaborations*, a testament to how instrumental global events like these are to build important connections.
It's always good to see new ideas and to have your ideas challenged. It's always good to meet with colleagues. I've identified new potential collaborations, new ways of verifying some of our findings using different cohorts from all around the world. It's absolutely essential we bring the community together somewhere like this to accelerate things forward.
Dr Jonathan Cooper-Knock, University of Sheffield
In preparation for this year’s event, leading MND experts are being confirmed for sessions, programmes are being decided and researchers will soon be submitting science posters for consideration. Many delegates come back year after year to learn, develop and share knowledge with others who share the same goal – to find treatments, improve care and ultimately cure MND.
I have joined the Symposium for the eighth consecutive time. It’s probably the most important meeting every year, because it's the only opportunity I have to meet all my colleagues from around the world, to have direct communication with patients, and to get a broad view of where the field is at in terms of clinical research or medical research, as well as biological and genetic research.
Professor Alfredo Ioacoangeli, King’s College London
I have been involved with the Symposium for many years and in that time have seen the event grow from delegate numbers of around 200 to now over 1500 – as well as the shift in focus from the mainly UK to something that is now a truly global event, with 48 countries represented last year. This year’s meeting in San Diego promises to be just as exciting, collaborative and insightful as the last.
It’s inspiring to see the progress that’s been made in MND research in recent years and encouraging to witness the continued passion for MND research within the community. The mix of scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, industry and charity representatives, and people with MND makes this a unique event and really does provide an ideal environment for learning, making connections and engaging with the global MND research community.
Dr Brian Dickie, Chief Scientist at the MND Association
General registration is open from May 6.
*Results from survey of delegates who attended our 2024 Symposium in Montreal