Submit your abstract and compete for prestigious research awards, including the biomedical and clinical poster prizes and the primary lateral sclerosis and upper motor neurone degeneration awards.
International Symposium on ALS/MND biomedical and clinical poster prizes
To celebrate the high quality of clinical and biomedical posters presented by early-career researchers during the Symposium, the MND Association presents the International Symposium on ALS/MND biomedical and clinical poster prize.
The winners of the poster prize are announced during the joint closing session of the Symposium, where the winners are presented with an engraved glass paperweight, and will be offered a free space at the upcoming Symposium.
This is an exciting opportunity, which raises the profile of the posters and enables winners to add the award to their CV.
Find out more about the judging process in the poster prize blog here.
Criteria and eligibility
Presenting authors aged 35 years or under on 9 July 2026, or within three years of their PhD award are eligible to enter their abstract for the poster prize during the abstract submission process. If the presenter does not qualify, the poster will not be considered for the prize.
Eligible poster presenters will need to indicate that they want to be considered for the poster prize during the abstract submission process (5 May 2026 – 9 July 2026). To do this, please tick the corresponding box within the online abstract submission form.
The initial stage of judging will be conducted by members of the Symposium Programme Committee, based on the written abstracts submitted by the deadline of 9 July 2026. This will generate the clinical and biomedical poster prize shortlists. Final judging of shortlisted posters will take place at the conference. To read about the full judging process please see the poster prize blog.
The winners of the clinical and biomedical poster prize will be announced during the closing session on 11 December 2026. Winners will be awarded an engraved glass paperweight, and a free registration place for the 2027 International Symposium on ALS/MND in Dublin, Ireland. (Travel and accommodation are not included)
Primary lateral sclerosis and upper motor neurone degeneration awards
The Thurza Campbell Award for Basic Science Innovation in PLS and The Marren Family Award for Clinical Innovation in PLS recognize outstanding contributions to primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) research and are designed to encourage continued innovation in both laboratory and clinical investigation.
The award recipients will be announced at the conclusion of the PLS Session on 10 December 2026, an annual event that has rapidly become a focal point for the PLS and upper motor neuron (UMN) research community since the introduction of the dedicated PLS track at the MNDA Symposium in 2025. Each award recipient will receive $2,000 USD for their contributions to research.
Bringing together clinicians, scientists, and trainees from around the world, this unique gathering reflects the growing momentum in PLS research, and these awards aim to further accelerate progress by recognizing and supporting emerging discoveries that advance our understanding of PLS and improve care for those living with the disease.
Criteria and eligibility
Both awards are open to all researchers studying PLS or upper motor neurone degeneration who will be attending the 37th International Symposium on ALS/MND.
Eligible poster presenters will need to indicate that they want to be considered for the awards during the abstract submission process (5 May 2026 – 9 July 2026). To do this, please tick the corresponding checkbox within the online abstract submission form.
The award recipients will be announced at the conclusion of the PLS Session on 10 December 2026 at the International Symposium on ALS/MND. Each award recipient will receive $2,000 USD for their contributions to research.