Professor Matthew Kiernan AM is NeuRA’s Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director.

Professor Kiernan is a distinguished clinical academic and scientist renowned for his expertise in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). He earned his PhD at UNSW Sydney and completed his specialty training at Prince of Wales and Prince Henry Hospitals. His outstanding contributions to neuroscience were acknowledged with a Doctor of Science (DSc) award from UNSW in 2009. Professor Kiernan leads a team of multi-disciplinary researchers at NeuRA dedicated to advancing research in MND and FTD, focused on early detection, novel treatments and the fundamental mechanisms that underpin these neurodegenerative conditions.

In 2015, he was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and received the prestigious Order of Australia in 2019 for his remarkable contributions to medicine and medical education in the field of neurology.

In 2022, Professor Kiernan made history as the first Australian recipient of the esteemed Sheila Essey Award from the American Academy of Neurology. Additionally, his dedication to biomedical research earned him the Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research (Perpetual Trustees) in June 2023. In 2024, Professor Kiernan was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Prior to joining NeuRA, Professor Kiernan served as co-Director of the Brain and Mind Centre since its inception in 2015. Additionally, he holds the esteemed Bushell Chair of Neurology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney.