In this episode, Dr Margreet Ridder — whose project was ranked the top FightMND-funded study in 2024 — reflects on her journey to becoming a researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) with her group leader, Professor Pankaj Sah. She shares how her fascination with neuronal communication led her to electrophysiology and ultimately to pursue gene therapy as a potential treatment for motor neurone disease (MND). 

In this insightful conversation, Pankaj and Margreet discuss: 

• Why hyperactivity in neurons has become an attractive target for MND treatments 
• The science of gene therapy 
• Gene therapy’s potential to treat MND  
• How viruses can be harnessed for good  
• The challenges discovery scientists face 

Discover how their work is paving the way for future treatments — and why hope for MND starts with discovery.  

Related resources 

The story behind Margreet’s pioneering research into MND 

Motor neurone disease