NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia

11/06/2026

Amanda has a rare form of Alzheimer’s, but she’s taking charge of her future by volunteering for NeuRA’s cutting-edge trials. Your support today will help power urgent brain health research so that people like Amanda can live in good health and cherish more time with their loved ones.

Donate here: https://support.neura.edu.au/donate

09/06/2026

There was a wide array of emotions on Daniher's Way in Melbourne when NeuRA's CEO, Scientia Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, joined hundreds in the "Walk to the G" - part of the first Big Freeze event since its pioneer, Fight MND founder Neale Daniher, recently passed away.

"A poignant Walk to the G, along Daniher’s Way, a great tribute to Neale Daniher... transformation of the MND landscape, nationally and globally, thanks to FightMND," said Professor Kiernan.

The turnout showed the coming together of the community in support of Neale and his family, and support for Motor Neurone Disease research and clinical trials.

03/06/2026

June's NeuRA All-Staff Meeting shone a topical spotlight on Motor Neurone Disease, current research and the experience of people living with it every day, in the lead up to MND Awareness Day on June 21.

Clinical Trials Specialist Eleanor Ramsey, part of the Kiernan Group at NeuRA, shared an update on the team’s work and impact. Additionally we were joined by Michael O’Hehir, who is living with MND and has been involved in the RESCUE-ALS Trial, speaking on his experience and the importance of trials like these.

We also had an in-conversation with Director of Communications Tom Smithies and NeuRA’s new Research Strategy and Quality Manager, Alex Economides, on his journey that led him to NeuRA, as well as CEO Professor Matthew Kiernan AM updating on what is happening in and around NeuRA and the research sphere.

02/06/2026

The Autumn issue of NeuRA Magazine is out now!

- Find out the latest work to tackle Parkinson’s Disease
- We introduce our NeuRA Quest Scholars
- Ask a researcher what hair can tell us about stress in autism, and
- Spend five minutes with NeuRA supporter, Malcolm Ginn.

You can read the stories and more here: https://neura.edu.au/magazines/the-neura-magazines-autumn-edition

01/06/2026

A New Motor Neuron Disease (MND) drug is showing reductions in key disease markers, slowing the progression of the disease in patients with a particular genetic mutation and providing hope to families.

Through monthly injections, the new drug binds to messenger RNA, reducing the number of harmful SOD1 (Superoxide Dismutase 1) proteins that build up in the nerve cells and which cause MND in up to 2% of all cases.

The growing urgency of treating the disease as well as the promising data from the drug, has prompted the Therapeutic Goods Administration to grant provisional approval of the drug, enabling Australian patients’ faster access.

Speaking with Channel 9, NeuRA CEO Professor Matthew Kiernan AM emphasised the importance of early intervention leading to more positive outcomes when it comes to MND.

"The availability of a targeted treatment reinforces the need for clinicians to act with urgency; any suspicion of MND should prompt immediate referral to a neurologist or specialist centre," said Professor Kiernan.

You can read the whole story here:

AustraliaPromising new MND drug shown to reduce key disease markersGabriella RogersUpdated May 29, 2026 - 10.37am. First published at 6.28amPowered byShare articleJenny Richmond's girlfriends were the first to notice her limp during their weekly walks."I said no I don't think I'm limping and they sa...

29/05/2026

Ongoing pain and significant psychosocial impacts affect many people with spinal cord injury (SCI), with researchers confirming the link and calling for integrated treatment approaches. Research from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the University of NSW Sydney (UNSW) examined the associations between pain intensity and psychosocial outcomes in adults with chronic pain.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis from NeuRA's Centre for Pain IMPACT reveals that understanding these connections is essential for developing more effective treatment approaches. NeuRA's Dr Negin Hesam-Shariati led this comprehensive review with senior author Professor Sylvia Gustin, examining 78 studies with nearly 20,000 participants to investigate the associations between pain intensity and psychosocial factors in adults with chronic spinal cord injury. Her work demonstrates that pain after spinal cord injury is not simply driven by damage to the nervous system, but is shaped by mood and social context.

The research shows that higher pain intensity is associated with greater fatigue, sleep disturbance, anger, and lower quality of life and social functioning. Importantly, Dr Hesam-Shariati's findings highlight modifiable targets such as depression, catastrophising and self-efficacy that can inform psychologically informed interventions and rehabilitation approaches.

Dr Hesam-Shariati and the Centre for Pain IMPACT team are now developing and testing more integrated approaches to pain management, combining biomedical care with psychological and social support. The next critical steps include longitudinal research to understand how pain and psychosocial factors influence one another over time, moving towards more personalised integrated pain care for people living with spinal cord injury.

You can read the full article here: https://disabilityinsider.com/2026/05/21/health/spinal-cord-injury-pain-tied-to-psychological-and-social-wellbeing/

27/05/2026

On the latest episode of Project 100, Investor, Author and Academic Mark Bouris AM, speaks with NeuRA CEO Matthew Kiernan AM.

Mark Bouris’s podcasts follow his quest to live to 100 years of age through advice from leading medical, fitness, and neuroscience experts.

In Professor's Kiernan second appearance on the podcast, he and Mark dive into the modifiable risk factors that can prevent up to 45% of dementia cases, groundbreaking Alzheimer’s treatments using monoclonal antibodies, as well as Australia's growing rates of dementia.

Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7olAM3c9UPA&t=101s

26/05/2026

NeuRA was the proud beneficiary of another generous donation from the ASX Refinitiv Charity Foundation last Friday, and we're honoured to be one of a number of charities and research institutes supported by ASX Refinitiv's tireless fundraising.

Since 1996, the foundation has been helping Australian-based children’s, disability and medical research, domestic violence and mental health charities by organising fundraising events in conjunction with the financial markets. To date, the combined funds distributed to a wide range of charities totals over $42 million.

We remain grateful for ASX Refinitiv's belief in the work we do, for the support of the foundation's sponsors and participants, and of course for the donation which will help us to address some of society's most pressing issues.

25/05/2026

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Neale Daniher AO, 2025 Australian of the Year and extraordinary campaigner to drive research into Motor Neurone Disease.

“Neale Daniher was a great footballer, a great coach but above all a great human being, who turned his own MND diagnosis into unrelenting efforts to try to ensure future generations don’t have to endure this disease,” said NeuRA CEO Professor Matthew Kiernan AM.

“He was entirely selfless – he knew that with the progression of his disease he wasn’t eligible for most of the clinical trials being run for MND, but that simply spurred him on to improve outcomes for others with MND.

“I was involved with Neale from that first diagnosis 13 years ago, and to see the dedication and strategy he brought to raising money for MND research was humbling. The very tactical skills that made him a top-class football coach helped to make FightMND the third largest fundraiser for research into this disease in the world, raising around $150m so far.

“His greatest legacy will be the Neale Daniher Clinical Network that the government agreed to fund after Neale’s passionate advocacy to the Treasurer last year, and which will accelerate research, expand clinical trials and give more people access to hope.

“Our deep sadness at the news of his passing is tempered by the knowledge that his work of the last 13 years will reverberate long into the future.”

21/05/2026

Whether you are a driver, pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist, Road safety is everyone's responsibility.

National Road Safety Week reminds us that behind every statistic is a life that matters. Around 1,300 people are killed, and another 40,000 are seriously injured on Australian roads every year. Road traffic injury remains the largest killer of children under 15 and the second biggest killer of those aged 15 to 24.

NeuRA's Transurban Road Safety Centre conducts rigorous crash testing and biomechanics research that feeds directly into Australian safety standards and regulations. This upstream approach means safer vehicles, better restraints and stronger protections are built into the products and policies that shape our roads before incidents occur.