The Brain and Mind Centre is celebrating a major success in the latest FightMND funding round, with four of the six University of Sydney-funded projects awarded to BMC researchers, totally more than $4.4 million.
The awards form part of FightMND's largest-ever investment in MND research and care, with $30.6 million committed across 69 projects and programs in 2026. were led by Brain and Mind Centre researchers.
The four BMC recipients are co-leaders of two research teams within the institute. A/Professor Rachel Tan and Dr Sicong Tu co-lead the Neurotherapeutic Innovations research team. Professor Adam Walker and Dr Benjamin Trist are co-leaders of the Biometals in Neurological Diseases (BiNDs) research team.
Biometals in Neurological Diseases (BiNDs)
Professor Adam Walker received a $1 million Discovery Grant for Degradative organelle disruptions in MND. His project will investigate why cellular systems responsible for clearing toxic TDP-43 protein fail in MND and whether these pathways can be restored as a therapeutic strategy.
Dr Benjamin Trist received his first FightMND award, securing a $1 million Discovery Grant to investigate how copper and manganese dysregulation contributes to motor neuron degeneration and identify new therapeutic targets for MND.
Neurotherapeutic Innovation
Associate Professor Rachel Tan has been a recipient of FightMND funding since 2023. She received a $999,981 Discovery Grant for Mapping protein biomarker signatures of progressive TDP-43 mislocalisation across the sporadic MND brain. Her research aims to determine whether toxic TDP-43 pathology can be detected through blood-based biomarkers, helping reduce diagnostic delays and enable earlier intervention.
Dr Sicong Tu is a FightMND Fellow since 2022. He received $1.45 million through the National Research Infrastructure Grant Program to establish the National MND Data Nexus. The initiative will create a national network of MND clinics equipped with advanced imaging and neurophysiological biomarkers to improve diagnosis, monitor disease progression and accelerate clinical trials.
FightMND's largest investment into MND research
With over $30 million invested across 69 projects and programs in 2026, FightMND is backing the best and brightest minds in the fight against MND. Read the list of all the FightMND Grants.