Funding for motor neurone disease (MND) research has received a boost through a unique fundraising initiative involving vintage trucks.
Dr. Lotta Oikari, a senior research officer at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, has been awarded the NTI MND Research Grant.
The grant is supported by funds generated through the restoration and raffle of vintage trucks, including a 1946 Ford Jailbar named Bonnie, which raised $483,000 in 2024.
“I’ve been focusing on MND research for about five years. I’m passionate about using my expertise in stem cells to better understand neurological diseases that are difficult to treat, such as MND, with the aim of finding new treatments for these diseases,” said Oikari.
Her work will utilise the grant to develop laboratory models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using stem cells from individuals living with MND. The BBB’s role is to protect the brain from harmful molecules. In MND and other brain diseases, this barrier often malfunctions.
Studies have identified abnormal aggregations of the TDP-43 protein within the brain cells of MND patients. Oikari's research will investigate a potential correlation between the abnormal TDP-43 protein and damage to the BBB, and explore whether treatments can restore the barrier's function.
"Understanding this could help better understand MND progression and develop new treatments,” Oikari said.
NTI is an Australian transport and logistics insurance provider that has raised more than $2.5 million for MND research through the restoration and raffle of seven vintage trucks that required 2,500 hours of work.
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This fundraising approach has provided significant funding for MND research. Oikari has stated that research funding, particularly for diseases like MND, is often limited.
According to NTI’s chief customer officer Janelle Greene, the cause has particular significance for NTI as their former CEO, Wayne Patterson, passed away from MND in 2018.
"More than 2,000 Australians live with the disease, and we’re committed to helping find a cure,” said Greene.
What are your views on the effectiveness of non-traditional fundraising methods in supporting critical medical research?
