2 April 2025 News
Now in its fourth year another of our key annual MND research events MND EnCouRage UK 2025 will take place from 15-16 July. The two-day event specifically tailored for early career researchers (ECRs) is open to the MND community on day two.
Members of the MND community will find out about the latest MND research presented in non-scientific terms, participate in round-table discussions about clinical trial results and new papers, and hear talks from leading MND researchers and scientists.
It's not just important for ECRs to meet us to understand there's people behind the disease, but also for us to meet them to understand the amazing work they're doing, to understand what’s going on behind the scenes and not just in researching medicine, but researching living with MND.
Anna Barrow has MND and attended MND EnCouRage 2024 with her husband Martyn
The event is focused on recognising and encouraging the important work of ECRs who have chosen MND as their area of investigation, and is designed to help them develop skills needed for their careers. It also helps ECRs and people living with and affected by MND to build partnerships and gain a greater understanding of the research interests of the MND community.
These events are very important for early career researchers in MND. They give ECRs an opportunity to collaborate and to network with colleagues. You learn skills you won’t learn anywhere else and learn what it is like to live with MND because people with MND are at these events. If you are a basic scientist you may not otherwise interact with people living with the condition and it’s very important to do so.
Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi, Clinician Scientist at King’s College London and Co-Director of the UK MND Research Institute
There are tailored sessions specific to the needs of ECRs such as how to communicate science to a lay audience and engaging public speaking.
Nothing we do is of any importance if we can't tell the people the disease effects what we're doing, how it's going and giving them hope for the future. MND EnCouRage was an opportunity for me to really understand how best to communicate my research, and to understand what it is I need to convey that's important to someone living with MND that they want to understand.
Katie Bowden, University of Sheffield, attended MND EnCouRage 2024
Registration is open to the public later this month. Places are limited and if the number of registrations exceeds the places available, all names will be entered into a ballot.
The only way we will defeat MND is by having the very best minds dedicate their time, experience and expertise to MND research. MND EnCouRage offers researchers of tomorrow a unique opportunity to connect with their peers, hear from leading MND experts and receive vital support and advice as they embark on their research careers. Many of these early career researchers are at a pivotal moment in their careers, often unsure whether to dedicate themselves to MND or continue in research altogether. We’re proud of our record in nurturing these talented researchers and know events like MND EnCouRage, which intentionally gives attendees a vital opportunity to connect with people affected by MND, play such an important part in inspiring our next generation of MND scientists.
Mike Rogers, Director of Research and Innovation at the MND Association
