MND has no known cause, and for most, treatment options are limited. But there is hope.
On Wednesday 15 October, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology is joining UQ Giving Day to raise funds for 50 medical smartwatches. These devices can be worn by MND Warriors in the comfort of their own homes, capturing real-time insights for an upcoming clinical trial’s promising new therapy. This will bring us closer to breakthroughs that could change lives.
Together, we can bring closer a future free from MND.
Frequently asked questions
What is Motor Neuron Disease (MND)?
MND covers a group of diseases that affect nerve cells called 'motor neurons'. These cells carry messages from the brain to the muscles via the spinal cord and allow us to make movements like walking, swallowing, talking and breathing.
In people with MND, the motor neurons become damaged and begin to die, causing muscles to weaken and waste away. The disease progresses at different speeds for each person, however the average life expectancy is 2 to 3 years after diagnosis. MND is life-limiting, and currently there is no cure.
What is the world-first clinical trial?
In 2026, UQ researchers will launch a phase 2B clinical trial to test whether Trimetazidine - a commonly used heart medication - can improve metabolism, function, and quality of life for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of MND.
How will the smartwatches help?
Researchers use a range of methods to track the progression of MND and the effectiveness of potential treatments. Most of these methods rely on participants traveling regularly to clinics and self-reporting their activity and experiences. While these methods are considered the world standard for MND clinical trials, UQ researchers believe there could be a more participant-friendly way to capture results.
The Ametris Actigraph LEAP smartwatch can continuously monitor and record key health and activity metrics such as movement patterns, heart rate, and sleep quality. Understanding how these change during a patient's regular routine is crucial for trials and for giving our researchers deeper insights.
If included in the clinical trial, this real-time, high-frequency data could:
- Detect subtle changes over time, building richer, more accurate data to assess treatment impact
- Give researchers unprecedented insight into how MND affects each participant day-to-day
- Make future clinical trials easier and more inclusive - both in Australia and the world
What is UQ Giving Day?
An online fundraising challenge calling on the UQ community to support a cause they're passionate about.
Who are the UQ researchers?
Led by Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), the Ngo Group investigates the entire MND pipeline, from uncovering its causes to developing new therapies that can slow or stop its progression.