Neurological Foundation Announces Recipients of December 2008 Grant Round
The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand awarded $1,014, 902 in research grants, and scholarships in its December 2008
funding round. Successful projects in this latest round included studies into detecting infant brain injury caused by
congenital heart defects, stem cell treatment for Huntington’s disease, a potential stroke treatment using antibodies,
and an online program to ease fatigue for people with multiple sclerosis. This brings the Neurological Foundation
funding for 2008 to more than $1.6 million.
Jesse Jacobsen from the University of Auckland is the recipient of the Foundation’s Philip Wrightson Post-doctoral
Fellowship. She receives a grant of $135,000 to continue her research into Huntington’s disease at Harvard Medical
School in the United States.
Ms Jacobsen was the 2007 recipient of the MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year Award for her work on Huntington’s
disease and she will be working in the laboratory of Professor Marcy MacDonald at Harvard’s Centre for Human Genetic
Research.
Two Miller Scholarships for study toward a PhD were awarded.
Paul Drury from the University of Auckland’s Department of Physiology received a grant of $96,520 to study techniques to
detect brain injury in babies born with congenital heart disease.
Owen Jones, from the University of Otago’s Department of Psychology received a grant of $98,059 to study the function of
nerve cell connections in brain injury and repair.
Executive director Mr Max Ritiche said that it was pleasing that Foundation had maintained its funding levels despite
the difficult economic times.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of the many New Zealanders who want to see the end of neurological
disease. However, neuroscience funding still lags behind many other areas of research despite brain disorders carrying
the greatest disease burden. More investment has to be made in this area if we are to cope with the health challenges of
our ageing population.”
Miller Scholarships
For students who have already completed their undergraduate degree and a Masters degree to allow them to undertake a PhD
course at a New Zealand university.
Identifying brain injury in infants with congenital heart disease
Paul Drury
Department of Physiology
University of Auckland
$96,520
Severe congenital heart disease affects around 8/1000 live births. Although most congenital heart defects are corrected
in infancy, brain damage remains a concern. How this injury occurs is unclear and MRI studies show that brain damage
occurs before and after surgery. However, imaging studies cannot identify milder brain injury; or identify damage
quickly at a time when treatment is still possible. For example, many studies have shown that infants with no detectable
brain damage on MRI scans can perform poorly at school, with poor eye-hand coordination, and speech and behavioural
problems.
This project will develop techniques to identify brain damage at a time when treatment is still possible by using a new
technique called near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure how much oxygen the brain is getting and how much it is
using, and another technique, electroencephalography (EEG), that measures brain activity.
Metaplastic mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning
Owen Jones
Department of Psychology
University of Otago
$98,059
Learning and memory involves changes in the connections - synapses - between nerve cells in the brain. Damage to these
connections is a characteristic of many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. Using
electrophysiological and imaging techniques, the researchers will investigate if nerve cells have the ability to control
the changes in these connections and prevent the changes from escalating. They will study whether this ability protects
brain cells against damage that occurs after such as stroke or brain disease. Understanding how these processes work
could help the development of treatments for many common neurological disorders.
Philip Wrightson Fellowship
For researchers who have completed a PhD and wish to develop their research further. This work can be undertaken at
either New Zealand or overseas universities or hospitals.
Stem cell production and characterization of a sheep model of Huntington’s disease
Dr Jessie Jacobsen
Department of Radiology with Anatomy
University of Auckland
Harvard Medical School
Centre for Human Genetic Research
$135,000
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene.
The new transgenic sheep model of HD developed at the University of Auckland provides a unique model to study the
effects of the human HD mutation. In order to develop the model for use in clinical trials it is necessary to identify
and describe the specific affects of the HD gene in various brain cell types by using the latest molecular biological
techniques. Identification of cellular changes will help identify early markers and new treatments for this tragic
disorder.
Project Grants
Characterisation of neurogenesis in the Huntington’s Disease rat transgenic model
Dr Ailsa McGregor, Assoc Prof Bronwen Connor
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology
University of Auckland
$142,442
Identifying new therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease like Huntington’s disease (HD) depends on a
clear understanding of what causes the disease. This study will use a clinically relevant genetic rat model of HD to
investigate the capacity of the adult brain to form new replacement brain cells (neurogenesis) and “repair” itself.
Establishing the genetic rat model of HD in will also allow the exciting opportunity to investigate the long-term
effects of treatment strategies providing an invaluable experimental tool to further HD research.
Can human anti- NMDA-NR1 antibodies limit damage from stroke?
Dr Maggie Kalev-Zylinska, Dr Ailsa McGregor, Prof Alan Barber, Dr Deborah Young, Assoc Prof Bronwen Connor
Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology
The University of Auckland
$131,861
Research has shown that the immune system can safely and effectively assist recovery of the damaged central nervous
system. Earlier work by this group has found that a particular type of antibody is present in patients after a stroke,
and in some healthy people. Furthermore, similar antibodies limited stroke injury when induced when animals by
vaccination. These antibodies could be a natural mechanism of protection against brain attacks.
This research will investigate how these antibodies bind to brain cells and what processes they trigger. The main aim is
to explore if these antibodies could be a natural mechanism of protection against brain attacks. Specifically, a brain
protein called NR1 is being tested as a potential target for protective antibody responses. This work will help
determine if boosting anti-NR1 antibody levels by vaccination could reduce impact of stroke on the brain.
Functional roles for melanocortin receptor accessory protein in the brain
Dr Kathleen Mountjoy, Dr Deborah Young
University of Auckland
Department of Physiology
$138,387
Brain diseases such as stroke lead to brain injury and can result in permanent, debilitating damage. Drugs that reduce
the damage to brain cells and promote the growth of new cells could lessen the effects of such brain injuries. Elements
of the brain melanocortin system have been shown to protect the brain from injury through various mechanisms, making
this system an attractive target for the development of new stroke therapies. This study will investigate the role of a
melanocortin receptor accessory protein, MRAPα, as its function is currently unknown. Advancing knowledge about
melanocortin biology will not only provide potential new drug targets for stroke but also other neurological diseases
including seizures, hemorrhagic shock, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Factors influencing older listeners’ comprehension of disordered speech associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Megan McAuliffe, Dr Catherine Moran, Prof Tim Anderson
Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury
Christchurch
$62,625
Slurred and distorted speech (dysarthria) is a common problem with brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and
stroke. It is usually found in older people and diminishes their quality of life. To date, speech rehabilitation
research has tended to use young adult listeners rather than the older adults who are more likely to interact with the
people with dysarthria. This study will determine the ability of older individuals to understand their speech, and if
this affected by age and hearing loss. The researchers will also investigate if speech therapy improves comprehension.
This research will allow the development of new speech rehabilitation techniques benefiting older partners of people
with dysarthria.
Th2 regulation of macrophages and microglia during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Dr Anne La Flamme, Dr Diane Kenwright, MsSara Mirmoeini
School of Biological Sciences
Victoria, University of Wellington
$167,488
Multiple sclerosis is a brain disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks and damages the insulating
substance called myelin which surrounds nerve cells in the brain.
Special immune cells, called T cells are responsible for the immune system targeting of nerves However, another cell
type – macrophages - also play a role by allowing inflammatory cells into the central nervous system (CNS). Previous
studies have found that treatments that alter a macrophage’s state of activation can prevent CNS inflammation and
disease. This project will determine the pathway by which several macrophage-altering treatments prevent disease.
Identification of disease-inhibiting pathways may uncover much-needed new therapeutic targets to inhibit or reduce the
severity of MS.
Small Projects
Targeting a common pathway in neurodegeneration
Assoc Prof Louise Nicholson, Prof Colin Green,
Department of Anatomy with Radiology
The University of Auckland
$9750
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder typified by the loss of dopamine neurons in a brain region called the substantia
nigra, and also by a profound cell loss in another brain area called the locus coeruleus.
This study will investigate the role of gap junctions, which are a type of connection that allow chemicals and proteins
to move between cells. Gap junctions are known to be involved in many inflammatory conditions and in the spread of
secondary damage in the brain. If gap junctions are found to play an active role in chronic brain inflammation,
regulation of the process may offer a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
A New Zealand pilot study of a web based interactive self-management programme for the treatment of multiple sclerosis
fatigue.
Dr Kirsten Van Kessel, Dr Trecia Wouldes, Prof Rona Moss-Morris
Department of Psychological Medicine
University of Auckland
$10,000
Fatigue is a common, distressing and disabling symptom associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Individual cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT) for fatigue in MS has been shown to be very effective, yet is limited by resources and access. A
previous study showed that an online CBT course together with minimal therapist time can be as effective as CBT where
people meet with a therapist for regular sessions. An internet-based version of a CBT package study is under development
at the University of Southampton. This project will launch a small pilot internet-based program in New Zealand, which
will contribute to the design of a larger trial.
Summer Studentships
Quantifying abnormal EEG activity after paediatric surgery
Paul Drury
Department of Physiology,
University of Auckland
$4000
Severe congenital heart disease affects around 8/1000 live births. Although most congenital heart defects are corrected
in infancy, brain damage remains a concern. How this injury occurs is unclear and MRI studies show that brain damage
occurs before and after surgery. However, imaging studies cannot identify milder brain injury; or identify damage
quickly at a time when treatment is still possible. For example, many studies have shown that infants with no detectable
brain damage on MRI scans can perform poorly at school, with poor eye-hand coordination, and speech and behavioural
problems.
This project will develop techniques to identify brain damage at a time when treatment is still possible using
electroencephalography (EEG), that measures brain activity.
The many roles of FezF2
Sarah Parker
Department of Biochemistry
University of Otago
$4000
Spinal cord damage or disorders such as motor neuron disease cause loss of neurons in the cortical spinal motor tract, a
group of cells that project from the brain to the spinal cord. Recent studies have identified several factors critical
for the development and health of these cells, however little is known about how these proteins function. This study
aims to identify how one such protein, FezF2, influences the development of cortical spinal motor neurons, perhaps
providing new targets for the treatment of motor neuron disease.
Fact Sheet
The Neurological Foundation is a charitable trust that raises money for neurological research in New Zealand. Each year
it awards more than $1.6 million in grants to New Zealand’s neuroscientists and is the largest non-governmental provider
of neurological research funding.
The Foundation receives no government assistance and is almost totally funded by the generosity of individual New
Zealanders, with more than 98 per cent of contributions coming from donations and bequests.
The funds are capitalised and the interest used to fund research grants. This system provides ongoing funding for career
scientists and long-term research projects. All grant applications are internationally peer-reviewed to ensure only
high-quality research is funded.
Since its inception, the Foundation has funded hundreds of projects and currently supports more than 40 research
projects at tertiary institutions throughout the country.
This unique dedicated funding body has helped New Zealand produce world-class neuroscientists and research. It also uses
the combined expertise and detailed knowledge of this group to help keep the public informed of the advances made in
neurological disorder prevention and cures.
A full list of research projects is available on its website. www.neurological.org.nz
ENDS