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Leading Australian researchers secure $500,000 in grants

Friday June 3, 2005

Some of Australia’s leading neuroscience researchers are sharing in $500,000 worth of grants at the annual Pfizer Australia Neuro Science Research (NSR) Grants Awards Dinner in Melbourne tonight.

The Pfizer Australia NSR Grants are awarded to further clinical research in the field of neuroscience, such as psychiatry, pain medicine and neurology. A total of $500,000 is shared among 10 of Australia’s leading researchers, this year drawn from Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Pfizer Australia’s Senior Medical Director, Dr Bill Ketelbey, said the NSR Grants are a tangible demonstration that Australia’s researchers are the equal to any in the world.

The NSR Grant recipients are:

• Stacey Jankelowitz from the University of Sydney (NSW)
  for research into the changes in motor neurons after a stroke. The study aims to demonstrate that muscle problems which occur after a stroke are not just due to post stroke paralysis.

• Paul Gray from the Multidisciplinary Pain Centre at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Qld)
  for a trial to investigate the treatment of neuropathic pain following severe burn injury. This trial aims to improve the pain management of burns patients.

• Dr Sharon Reutens from the Prince of Wales Hospital (NSW)
  for an examination into late onset depression in the elderly. The study will utilise MRI brain scans to identify key brain differences between depressed and non-depressed elderly patients.

• Dr Thanh Giang Phan from MIND (Vic)
  for studies into brain asymmetries and how they affect language abilities. The study aims to use MRI scans to compare the thickness of specific sections of the brain and rate these against verbal fluency tests.

• Mark Mackay of the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne (Vic)
  for research into how a high fat, low carbohydrate diet can affect epilepsy.

• Dr Antony Devis of Fremantle Hospital (WA)
  for research into dual therapy with vitamins and established anti-depressants as a treatment for late-life depression.

• Mark Walterfang from the University of Melbourne (Vic)
  for a study that analyses brain white matter structures of first episode psychosis patients, comparing patients on medication with those who are not. The study hopes to identify the role that white matter pathology plays in the development of first episode psychosis.

• Gin Malhi of the University of New South Wales (NSW)
  for a study that will utilise advanced brain-scanning techniques to scan bipolar patients whilst they complete memory tasks through various stages of their disorder. The study hopes to establish markers to indicate changing conditions between manic and depressive states.

• Dr Jonathan Sturm from Central Coast Health (NSW)
  for research into how vitamin-B can affect the onset and development of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.

• Nigel Wolfe from Westmead Hospital (NSW)
  for a study of tremor to test the effectiveness of the current gold standard treatment and identify possible improvements.

“The NSR grants are a part of the Pfizer Australia Research Grants program, an ongoing commitment that will benefit the Australian medical research community, the Australian public and healthcare in general,” Pfizer Australia’s Senior Medical Director Bill Ketelbey said.

“In addition to the NSR Grants the program includes the Cardio Vascular Lipid Grants, the Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships and the GP-based Cardio Vascular Research Grants.”

The NSR Grants are being presented by Professor Henry Brodaty, one of Australia’s leading psychiatrists from the Prince of Wales Hospital.

“Support of this level is vital for the continued development of innovative treatments for Australian society,” Dr Ketelbey said

“It not only demonstrates that Australia is a world centre of medical research, but contributes significantly to the future health of all of us.

” Pfizer Australia is the nation’s leading research-based health care company, investing more than $A42m in local research and development annually. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical treatments for both humans and animals.

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