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Ten neuroscience researchers share in $500,000 grants program
Friday July 28, 2006
A Melbourne-based researcher leading a study to determine the resistance of drugs to epilepsy and their side effects, is one of 10 researchers Australia-wide sharing grants worth a total of more than $500,000.
The Pfizer Australia Neuroscience Research (NSR) Grants, announced today, are for clinical research in neuroscience (including psychiatry), pain medicine, neurology, and associated areas.
Dr Cassandra Szoeke, who works at the Royal Melbourne Hospital is looking at the response of drugs to epileptic seizures which will eventually allow for the improvement of drug treatments.
Dr Szoeke’s work is also looking at genetic facts behind responsiveness to drug therapy.
Other projects attracting NSR grants are:
- An investigation by Dr Ian Sutton (Garvan Institute of Medical Research) of the dual specific phosphatase Pac-1 as a regulator of TH1 lymphocyte and macrophage function in experimental allergic encephalitis
- Work by Dr Clement Loy (Garvan Institute of Medical Research) on a longitudinal clinical, imaging and genetic study of a cohort of patients with frontotemporal dementia
- An investigation by Dr Neil Spratt (University of Melbourne) of injury and repair of Neuronal Processes in stroke
- Research by Dr Taraneh Khoo (Royal Brisbane Hospital) on imaging the brain during problem solving in siblings of patients with schizophrenia
- Work by Dr Julian Rodrigues (University of Western Australia) into treatment of Parkinson Disease bradykinesia with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Research by Dr Christopher French (The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne) into Computer Stimulation of Brain Activity
- Work by Dr Meredith Ward (Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children’s Hospital) into Neutral Cell Therapy for newborn brain injury
- Research by Dr Ju Lee Oei (Royal Hospital for Women) into the effects of late-pregnancy Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Efexor on newborn infants of clinically depressed mothers
- Work by Dr Robert Casson (Royal Adelaide Hospital) into bioenergetic-based neuroprotection for diseases of the retina and optic nerve.
NSR Grants provider Pfizer Australia is the country’s leading research-based medicines company and its grants target our brightest and best young researchers in neuroscience. Each NSR Grant provides mostly young neuroscientists up to $55,000 to fund their own state-of-the-art research.
“These grants are in their fourth year and offer young specialists the opportunity to be involved in research,” said Pfizer Australia’s Senior Medical Director, Dr Ketelbey.
“They are designed to encourage and foster those younger doctors who want to make a career out of research and underline Pfizer Australia’s very real commitment to R&D.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer these grants, alongside our separate scheme for cardiovascular and lipid-related research.”
An Australian Physicians Independent Committee (APIC) of leading physicians and researchers awards the grants, which are up to $55,000 (including GST).
They target up-and-coming talent by inviting applications from medical graduates who have obtained specialist qualifications within the last five years, are currently in advanced training, or are returning to research from a break.
Pfizer Australia is the nation’s leading research-based health care company. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical treatments for both humans and animals. For more information visit the links on this website.
For information on the NSR grants and past recipients, visit www.nsrgrants.com.au.