Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Announces Successful Applicant

KATE SHEPPARD MEMORIAL TRUST ADVISORY COMMITTEE

PRESS RELEASE

Embargoed until September 19th 1.00 pm

Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Announces Successful Applicant

“Women’s Suffrage is an important time to remember in New Zealand’s history. We have the unique privilege of being the first country that gave women the vote, thanks to Kate Sheppard and her friends who fought so hard for the right of New Zealand women to vote” said Karena Brown, Chairperson of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust.

“That is why the Trust chose to announce the successful recipient of the 2015 Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Award on NZ Women’s Suffrage Day, the day we commemorate women in New Zealand getting the vote. This year’s recipient is Dr Rashi Karunasinghe, a 27 year old who has recently completed her PhD study at the University of Auckland”

“Rashi is an impressive young woman who completed her Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Auckland Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research. New Zealand needs such high calibre graduates completing their study here, especially when the field of study is such a topical one.”

“Stroke afflicts approximately 24 New Zealanders each day and several brain chemicals can be altered after a stroke. The ultimate aim of Rashi’s proposed study, a collaboration between the University of Auckland departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, is to shed new light on the mechanisms of brain injury after a stroke and may also lead to novel therapies for ameliorating stroke-related brain injury, a condition which is prevalent in our society.”

“The Trust is very pleased to be able to continue to assist talented women achieve their dreams. Given the disenfranchisement of young people around the world, the research being undertaken by this year’s recipient will be very important not only to New Zealand but to overseas as well. We are sure that Kate Sheppard would be proud to lend her name to such a worthwhile area of study.”

Ends

© Scoop Media