June 25, 2026
The Yerbury Lab researchers brave The Big Freeze for MND research
Four researchers searching for answers to MND are stepping out of the lab and under the ice bucket to support FightMND
The University of Wollongong (UOW) Yerbury Lab put four of its leading Motor Neurone Disease (MND) researchers under the ice bucket to raise funds and awareness for FightMND and the more than 2500 Australians living with the disease.
Yerbury Lab researchers Dr Christen Chilsom, Dr Luke McAlary, Dr Heath Acroyd and Dr Jeremy Lum each tackled the Ice Bucket Challenge on Tuesday 23 June as part of FightMND’s annual fundraising campaign. This year’s campaign came amid renewed national public attention on MND following the passing of FightMND co-founder and AFL legend Neale Daniher, and NRL player Jai Arrow’s recent diagnosis.
The Yerbury lab was founded by Professor Justin Yerbury before his MND diagnosis in 2016 to research the causes and progression of the disease. Dr Chilsom, Dr McAlary and Dr Lum continue his work, investigating why MND develops and how new treatments might stop or slow its progression.
MND is a progressive and fatal neurological disease that gradually takes away a person’s ability to move, eat, swallow, speak and breathe, with an average life expectancy of 27 months following diagnosis. Two Australians are diagnosed with MND every day, and two lose their lives to it.
The Big Freeze and Ice Bucket Challenge are used by FightMND to symbolise MND because the shock of ice-cold water mimics the physical sensation of muscles "freezing up" as the disease advances.
FightMND have provided multiple grants to the Yerbury Lab over the years. Last year, the lab raised $4000 through its Big Freeze event and is hoping to surpass that total in 2026.
Donate here.
