We believe that patients, carers and members of the public can make a valuable contribution to scientific debate. We provide a forum where ideas of ordinary people can be discussed and explored, where new research can be planned and made to happen. My area of particular interest is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known as ALS or MND in the UK), the disease of which I am slowly dying, but we will also discuss and pursue other neurodegenerative diseases. I think we have a chance here, to help drive the research forward – towards finding a cure. We will do this through writing our own research papers and then having them peer reviewed by a panel of other amateur researchers – fighting alongside scientists and with them, using the tools of their trade. We will help each each other hone our ideas, before presenting the best of them to the mainstream research community – and to the world. Together we can make a difference.
Patrick Joyce, founder of The Society of Amateur Neurologists.