Research

MNDSA Research Travel Award 2025/26

MNDSA would like to acknowledge the contribution, commitment and collaboration demonstrated by Researchers to improve the lives of people with Motor Neurone Disease through travel, training, and conference attendance. MNDSA administer an annual award, intended to Fund Researchers to attend major conferences or seminars within Australia or overseas.

To be eligible for award, applicants must plan to or be attending a conference or seminar with content that will help to improve the quality of services, management, or Motor Neurone Disease Research and impactful for people living with Motor Neurone Disease. The conference or seminar may be in person or virtual.

There will be two categories of award. The first is clinically related, the second is basic research, but all applications must pertain to conferences or seminars that relate to Motor Neurone Disease.

Awards are made to individuals. Multiple Awards will be offered to a maximum of $2000 for international conference/seminar applicants and $500 for National (Australian) conference or seminar, with applicants eligible for only one award each until funds for this purpose are exhausted for a calendar year. Awards can be used for flights, registration, and/or accommodation. Awards will not exceed the cost of attendance. The Award comprises a letter and a payment. The value of each Award will be fixed based on projected cost of travel submitted by the applicant. The value of awards may be reduced to facilitate more attendees.

Eligibility

All people with an interest in Motor Neurone Disease may apply but priority will be given to:

1. Individuals with evidence of an abstract accepted for the conference.
2. Final year PhD students and early post-doctoral researchers
3. Health and allied health professionals collaborating with people living with MND, including palliative care.

Applicants must agree to write and present a formal report on their attendance at the approved activity, with particular emphasis on the benefits and impact of conference attendance on people living with Motor Neurone Disease. Recipients who do not submit a report will be ineligible to receive future support. Employees of Australian MND associations are not eligible to apply.

Application of Funds

The Award may be for flights, registration and/or accommodation associated with attendance. Funding may not meet all costs. Funds will only be distributed when evidence is provided to confirm conference abstract acceptance. No late applications will be considered.

Report

A requirement to present to the Association a written report within 4 weeks of the conclusion of the event is part of the Award agreement. The report will address the nature of the event, specific learning, impact on people with MND, take home knowledge and promotion/translation to practice.

Application/ Basis of Selection

Applications must be received 60 days before the intended event. There is no application form. Applications must be sent by email to researchgrant@mndsa.org.au.

Applications received by mail or fax will not be considered and not returned. Applicants must support their application with a statement outlining how attendance at the event might assist their future career in MND Research and impact on people living with MND. The application must contain a copy of the submitted abstract. Applications must include a budget and not exceed two pages in total. Applicants should not attach additional documents, or publication lists to their application. Applicants must identify other sources of funding attained or sought. Recipients of Awards or Grants that include funding to attend the MND/ ALS International Symposium must declare funding from other sources.