In December 2019, the Motor Neuron Disease Association (MNDA) will be holding its annual International Symposium on ALS/MND from December 4th to 6th in Perth, Australia. Fernando Vieira, the Chief Scientific Officer of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) will be in attendance.
“The MNDA always creates an amazing forum where stakeholders in ALS research and ALS clinical communities can come together to share ideas and learn from one another. Each year, I look forward to this immersive experience.” - Fernando Vieira, M.D.
The symposium is put together every year by the MND Association of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and hosted by a local International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations member association. This year the host is MND Australia. The symposium is the largest scientific and medical conference on ALS and related Motor Neuron Diseases. It is a great opportunity for leading ALS researchers to learn about the advancements made around the world in ALS research and treatment methods. There are presentations and talks from leading researchers and neurologists from across the world. To learn more about the symposium, click here.
In the three days leading up to the symposium the International Alliance also hosts the Annual Alliance Meeting, ALS/MND Connect and the Allied Professionals forum. The Annual Alliance Meeting will take place on December 1st and 2nd and is an opportunity for Alliance member associations to discuss their advances in research, organizational development, and planning as well as the role of the Alliance and its Board of Directors. ALS/MND Connect, previously called Ask the Experts, is a 3-hour long interactive session for people living with ALS and their caregivers to attend and learn more from expert presentations as well as a Q & A session. This year’s session will be hosted on December 2nd. This session will be streamed on Facebook Live for those that cannot attend in person but would like to participate. The Allied Professionals Forum, held on December 3rd, is aimed at health professionals, such as physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers who specialize in ALS/MND. There will be presentations on practical care strategies and assistive technology innovations for the clinical management of ALS/MND.
The International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations was founded to provide an international community and assistance for all the ALS/MND Associations spread throughout the world. Their purpose is to build a global network of local associations that are well informed by people living with ALS and to assist these associations in raising their capabilities to defeat ALS. To learn more about the Alliance, visit https://www.alsmndalliance.org/.