International award for MND researcher

Dr Jennilee Davidson, a Research Fellow at the Macquarie University Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research Centre, has been named as one of three international ALS Scholars in Therapeutics.

The prestigious two-year program brings with it a grant of US$300,000 (A$460,470).

It is jointly funded by the Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital, ALS Finding a Cure®, and Australian MND charity FightMND. Massachusetts General is the main teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School.

An early career researcher who earned her PhD in Biomedical Science at Macquarie University in 2022, Dr Davidson has been recognised for her work developing a novel TDP-43 degrader therapeutic for MND.

Being named as an ALS Scholar in Therapeutics will allow her to validate and optimise the therapeutic, which is designed to remove the abnormal accumulation of the protein TDP-43 in motor neurones, and ultimately develop a continuously self-regulating gene therapy.

Dr Bec Sheean, Director of Research and Programs at FightMND, says the competitive award is a fantastic recognition of the innovative research that Dr Davidson and her team are doing at Macquarie.

“This unique global partnership is targeted at developing the next generation of leaders in the MND field and focused on supporting them in the development of potential new treatments for this devastating disease,” she says.

“We are proud to support Dr Davidson and to see Australian researchers continue to play a central role in the global fight against MND.”

Dr Davidson says she is extremely thankful for this opportunity to further her research.

“I’m looking forward to learning more about developing new treatments for people living with ALS/MND, and using that knowledge to strengthen and progress my own research,” she says.

“As part of the program, I will learn first-hand current therapy approaches from world-renowned scientists and clinicians, engage directly with people living with ALS and better understand the drug development process from industry.”

Foundation Professor of Neurology Professor Dominic Rowe, who leads the Macquarie University MND Clinic, says Dr Davidson’s award highlights the importance of her work on the biology of MND.

“The MND Research Centre provides a superb environment for talented young scientists to be mentored by some of the best researchers in Australia,” he says.

“This award will also further strengthen the ties between Macquarie and Harvard.

“Sean Healey was one of my patients who participated in novel therapeutic trials at Macquarie before his death from MND in early 2020, and his legacy has lived on, supporting much-needed research.”