MND Scotland announces local LEARN research engagement events in Scottish Football Stadiums

MND Scotland is once again hosting free, interactive, and educational local events focused on motor neuron disease research.

The Lived Experience and Researcher Network (LEARN), organised by Scotland’s MND charity, brings together people affected by motor neuron disease (MND) and local MND researchers.

LEARN launched in 2023 when people with MND were invited to take tours of researchers’ laboratories and provide useful feedback to improve engagement events for people with MND and researchers.

In 2024, 102 people attended four LEARN events in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

This year, MND Scotland’s research team will be returning to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee, with an additional new location in Dingwall, Scottish Highlands, to help build relationships between researchers and people affected by MND and allow them to share knowledge and experiences.

The events will take place in football stadiums across the country thanks to the support from: Celtic FC, Aberdeen FC, Ross County Football Club, Dundee United F.C., and Heart of Midlothian.

On the day, attendees can expect to hear presentations from MND researchers; open discussions with MND researchers and people affected by MND; sessions facilitated to build relationships between attendees and researchers; and opportunities to learn about current MND research.

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing terminal neurological illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. MND Scotland is the only charity in Scotland dedicated to directly supporting people living with motor neuron disease and their families and friends.

There are around 480 people in Scotland currently living with MND. There is no cure or meaningful treatments.

MND Scotland supports the idea that the input and viewpoints of those with lived experience are vital to help guide research.

Ken McEwen and his wife Lesley attended the LEARN Aberdeen event in 2024: “The MND Scotland LEARN event was a great opportunity for the MND community to meet with researchers and hear about the local research efforts to combat the disease.

“No matter how hard you try to stay positive, life with MND can feel a bit hopeless with no real effective treatments, let alone the elusive cure. So, it was good to get this insight into the efforts being made to find a breakthrough. The researchers spoke of the event’s value in giving faces and voices to the people they are striving to help.”

The informative and engaging events will explore the latest developments in MND research for those affected by motor neuron disease and hopes to build relationships between those with lived experience and researchers to make sure that research reflects the needs of people with or affected by MND.

MND Scotland invites those interested in this research learning event to hear more about their contribution in the fight against MND.

Event details (including information about parking, accessibility, and how to register) can be found here:

Glasgow: Thursday 11 September 2025, 2pm-5pm, Celtic Park

Aberdeen: Tuesday 23 September 2025, 2pm-5pm, Pittodrie Stadium

Edinburgh: Tuesday 7 October 2025, 2pm-5pm, Tynecastle Park 

Dundee: Wednesday 22 October 2025, 2pm-5pm, Tannadice Park

Dingwall: Thursday 30 October 2025, 2pm-5pm, Ross County

Register here.

For more information about MND Scotland, please visit: www.mndscotland.org.uk, email: info@mndscotland.org.uk, or call: 0141 332 3903.