The Forbes Norris Award was established in 1994 to honour the legacy of Dr. Forbes “Ted” Norris (1928–1993), a neurologist who dedicated his life to supporting people living with ALS/MND. This prestigious award recognizes individuals whose work advances clinical care, research, and understanding of ALS/MND for the benefit of those living with the disease.
Dolores “Dee” Holden Norris (1946–2025), Ted’s wife, championed the award and the standards of clinical excellence it represents. In December 2025, the International Alliance paid tribute to Dee — nurse, advocate, co-founder of the Alliance, and a driving force behind the multidisciplinary model of ALS/MND care.
Working alongside Ted, she helped transform how ALS/MND care is delivered worldwide. At a time when patients were often offered little more than prognosis, they envisioned something fundamentally different: coordinated, team-based care grounded in clinical excellence and compassion. Their work helped establish the global standard for multidisciplinary ALS/MND clinics and laid the foundation for the collaborative international community that exists today.
To be considered for the Forbes Norris Award, candidates must:
- Play a major role in delivering outstanding ALS/MND patient care
- Contribute significantly to medical literature in clinical management or basic science related to ALS/MND
- Be part of a team engaged in ongoing research into ALS/MND care, management, or basic science
The award is presented annually during the opening ceremony of the MND Association’s International Symposium on ALS/MND. If no suitable candidate is nominated in a given year, the award will not be granted. Please note that current Board of Directors are not eligible for nomination.
The 2026 nomination period will open on July 1.