NeuRA chief executive recognised for groundbreaking brain disease research

Professor Matthew Kiernan has received the 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence.

How long will it be before devastating conditions like dementia can be effectively managed? According to Professor Matthew Kiernan, Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), we could be on the cusp of major advancements in the way we understand and treat the condition. 

Professor Kiernan, who is also Scientia Professor of Neuroscience at UNSW, has been recognised by Research Australia’s Health and Medical Research Awards with the 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence.

The award recognises his decades of research into neurodegenerative disease, particularly motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia.  

Accepting the accolade, Prof. Kiernan said he was hopeful that conditions like dementia would be manageable within the next two decades. Several new innovative therapies are in clinical trials across the globe, thanks to his research.

“It’s an honour to be named the 2024 recipient of the GSK Award for Research Excellence and have our work recognised in this way,” Prof. Kiernan said.

“It’s an exciting time to be working within the field of neuroscience. For a long time, one of the key challenges facing neurologists was understanding how neurodegeneration begins in the brain. Our research has provided key information about the critical functional changes that occur prior to the onset of a neurodegenerative disease.”

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, congratulated Prof. Kiernan on his prestigious award.

“Matthew’s research has had a significant impact on our understanding of motor neurone disease and dementia and will undoubtedly help Australians impacted by these diseases in many years to come.  

“We’re proud of Matthew’s outstanding contribution to medical research and the recognition he has received is incredibly well deserved for a lifetime of dedication. Research into these devastating brain diseases is crucial to discovering new treatments and improving the quality of life for those affected.”

UNSW Dean of Medicine & Health Professor Cheryl Jones said: “We congratulate Matthew on this prestigious award. It reflects his international leadership in neurodegenerative diseases including clinical trials of innovative therapies positions. The benefits of his work will resonate for years to come.”

Improving global understanding of brain diseases

As an internationally renowned neuroscientist, Prof. Kiernan is known for introducing techniques that allow scientists to study how nerve cells communicate with one another. His discoveries have elevated global understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease, which has helped scientists identify new therapeutic targets. 

“We are now able to delineate between the normal function of the brain and the key mechanisms of disease. This new perspective is paving the way for innovative therapies and treatment options for conditions like MND and frontotemporal dementia.”  

Prof. Kiernan’s work has helped define diagnostic criteria for neurodegenerative diseases and established consensus guidelines that have now been adopted by the World Federation of Neurology. 

A national clinical trials program

Prof. Kiernan said he will use the $100,000 grant accompanying the GSK Award for Research Excellence to establish a clinical fellowship to underpin the development of a national clinical trials program. This will improve patient access to new trials and enable more robust assessment of data.

 “Further developing our national clinical trials program is a major priority for our team. This grant provides an important opportunity to establish a fellowship focused on translational research and precision medicine approaches for all patients across Australia,” Prof. Kiernan said.  

The 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence will be presented to Prof. Kiernan at Research Australia’s Health and Medical Research Awards 2024 in Melbourne.