5 December 2024 News
Just as Kevin Sinfield CBE approaches the end of his incredible #RunningHomeForChristmas challenge - which is helping to fund ground-breaking research into potential new treatments for MND - so the 35th International Symposium on ALS/MND is about to begin in Montreal, Canada.
Hosted by the MND Association, the Symposium is the largest scientific and medical conference specific to ALS/MND in the world with more than 1,300 delegates expected to attend from 48 countries.
Spanning three days, the event allows for the sharing of the latest advances in research and treatments in MND. The programme offers a mix of basic and clinical science, therapy development and clinical management. To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, a hybrid element is being offered once again this year, where delegates who have chosen this option can watch some sessions live from the comfort of their homes. On demand access to all sessions will be available to all delegates after the event.
We are delighted to be bringing the world’s largest gathering of MND scientists and clinicians back to North America for the first time since 2017. The value of the meeting stretches well beyond the lecture hall. In a rapidly growing and exciting research field, the Symposium not only helps bring the research community up to speed on new discoveries, but also stimulates new ideas and fosters greater international collaboration. This year’s record-breaking number of research studies highlights the breadth of research being carried out globally, each adding a piece to the complex puzzle that is MND and helping us to understand, treat and ultimately defeat this devastating disease.
Many Association-funded researchers are set to attend and showcase their research findings. They will network with peers to share knowledge and build new collaborations. We’re also delighted to welcome 17 patient fellows who are living with MND, to share research news and developments.
There will be 20 speakers who will cover a wide range of topics including the biology of MND and improving care and support for people affected by the disease.
The comprehensive programme also includes our informal poster sessions which, once again this year, will include the showcasing of over 400 science posters. These sessions are a chance for researchers at all stages of their careers to demonstrate, share and discuss their work with the MND community. Delegates from across the world will come together for informal discussions about all aspects of MND research in the hope of developing new collaborations and ideas.
Research news from the Symposium will be presented in non-scientific terms for the whole community so do keep an eye on the Association’s research X (formerly known as Twitter) and also our research blog.