Peter Crouch leads groundbreaking research to accelerate MND treatment assessment

A/Prof Peter Crouch (Dept of Anatomy & Physiology) is developing a new approach to tracking MND treatment progress thanks to 2025 FightMND Impact Grant.

^{Image: A/Prof Peter Crouch in the lab}

Peter's research shifts focus from the brain and nerves to the muscles - where MND’s effects are most visible - to develop biomarkers that can quickly and accurately show whether a treatment is working and improving strength and function in patients.

These muscle biomarkers could be game-changers...they’re designed to reflect real functional improvements, helping us assess therapies faster and more precisely.

^{A/Prof  Peter Crouch}

His team is mapping how muscle proteins change during MND progression, identifying key indicators of treatment response and validating them in human samples. If successful, these biomarkers could become standard tools in future clinical trials, speeding up the path to effective therapies.

Peter remains deeply connected to the MND community, drawing inspiration from people living with the disease.

Every conversation motivates me to push forward in the lab.

With no other funding, FightMND’s support has been crucial. Peter hopes his work will help doctors tailor treatments to individuals, giving patients more timely and hopeful outcomes.

In 2025, FightMND is investing $22.9 million into research and care - including Peter’s project - to bring us closer to beating the Beast.

A full version of this article was originally published by FightMND on 5th November.