Brain Food Lunch x RMH Neuroscience Foundation
You're Invited!
Following the success of our Broken Brains Lunch, we are delighted to invite you to the first Brain Food Lunch - our new event series in support of brain health and brain disease research at the RMH Neuroscience Foundation.
In light of the sad passing of AFL great and Australian of the Year, Neale Daniher, it felt especially meaningful to dedicate our inaugural event to Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and brain trauma.
We are pleased to welcome Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa, Neurologist and leading MND researcher, alongside Josie Caruso, lived-experience guest presenter, to share their insights into this life-limiting neurological condition.
In this conversational setting, we invite you to enjoy a delicious seated two‑course lunch, a decadent dessert station, and flowing beverages at local favourite, The Leveson. Connect, capture and consume - plus prizes to be won!
Date: Friday 24 July, 2026
Time: 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Venue: The Leveson - Back Bar & Courtyard
Address: 46 Leveson Street, North Melbourne
Tickets: $100 per person
Featuring
Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa - Neurologist & Researcher
A clinician on a mission, Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa is a clinician-researcher at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Florey Institute, and a FightMND grant recipient. Thanuja is providing hope for patients of MND by launching a specialist multidisciplinary clinical research centre, with the vision to link patients, the people caring for them, and the researchers working to understand and cure this disease.
Josie Caruso - Lived-Experience MND Carer
Josie’s mother, Vittoria, lived with motor neuron disease (MND) for just three years following a delayed diagnosis. Sadly, she passed away in November 2024 at the age of 73. Described as “fierce”, Vittoria continues to inspire Josie’s determination to advocate for and raise awareness of MND in her mother’s honour. Drawing on her experience as an intensive carer for her mother, Josie will share the lived reality of MND.
Sarah Matheson AM - Deputy Chair and Host
Sarah Matheson, Deputy Chair of the RMH Neuroscience Foundation and newly-appointed President of the Stroke Foundation, will host Thanuja and attendees for this special lunch gathering.
Travel Details
Accessibility
Event held in the Bar Back & Courtyard function space.
This space is wheelchair accessible, with alternate entry point.
Please select Accessibility option during checkout - arrival directions will be e-mailed to you.
There are no disabled toilets, though cubicles are deemed wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
Parking
There is ample street parking in the area.
Please be careful to take note of hourly restrictions.
Transport
Tram 57 or 58
Nearby Stops (2-4mins)
12 North Melbourne Town Hall / Errol St
11 Victoria St / Errol St
10 Chetwynd St / Victoria St
Bus 216 or 220 via Victoria St
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
