$2M for MND research

Member for Murray Helen Dalton has secured $2 million for Motor Neurone Disease research. Image: supplied.

By Tertia Butcher

Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has secured $2 million for Motor Neurone Disease research from the Minns Government, after tirelessly campaigning on the issue for many years.

The new money will fund research into identifying causes of MND and finding a cure for the debilitating disease which has impacted the lives of many people in the Hay region.

“The people of Murray continue to live under constant threat of MND, most likely caused by blue green algae in our lakes and rivers,” Mrs Dalton said.

“For too long, governments have ignored this shocking health problem, so I am glad the Minns Government has chosen to listen to the people whose lives are been affected by the threat of MND.”

Almost a million dollars of the funding boost will go to Professor Dominic Rowe from Macquarie University to fund research into why MND breakouts occur in specific geographic areas.

Almost half a million dollars will go to Dr Rachel Tan from the University of Sydney to fund research into better MND diagnosis.

The other half a million will go to Professor Steve Vucic from the Sydney Local Health District to develop a new diagnostic approach to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a form of MND that affects the nervous system.

“For too long MND outbreaks in rural NSW have been ignored and lives have been destroyed as a result,” Mrs Dalton said.

“This funding will help end this crisis.”

Ms Dalton praised the work of MND researchers like Professor Rowe.

“Professor Rowe is a world leader when it comes to MND. He understands the need to study MND clusters like the ones we experience in Murray.

“We must listen to people like him and governments need to ensure people like Professor Rowe have the funding they need to conduct their life-saving work.”