Media Statement July 28, 2000
$1.9 Million invested in New Zealand Students
Workahholism, keeping our Deer healthy, invasive fungal infections and the transport of heavy metals in our ground water
are just some of 70 new research projects that will begin this year.
Another $1.9 Million was invested into New Zealand’s future this week as the second round of Bright Future Scholarship
applications were offered to students from around New Zealand.
Fifty two Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships and 17 Enterprise Scholarships were offered, along with two Enterprise
Skills/Technologies Scholarships. The scholarships are administered for the Ministry of Education by the Foundation for
Research, Science and Technology.
Enterprise Scholarships help businesses improve their services or production processes through research, and encourage
businesses to develop relationships with tertiary institutions. Businesses put up half the cash to assist a student in
graduate studies related to their business and the Government pays the other half.
Jennifer Scotter is one recipient of the new Enterprise Scholarships. Her research will enable the early diagnosis of
invasive fungal infections to become more accurate.
“Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of sickness and death among people whose immune systems are not working
properly,” said Ms Scotter.
“Unreliable laboratory diagnosis means that often people with this condition don’t receive antifungal therapies at the
right time, and sometimes not at all.”
“My work will involve studying a new diagnostic technique, focusing on bone marrow transplant patients, this data will
then be used throughout Australasia to provide standards for diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections,”
said Ms Scotter.
The Christchurch school of Medicine will host Ms Scotter’s work; her enterprise partner is Canterbury Health Ltd.
For Further Information:
Visit our website, www.frst.govt.nz
Jim McMillan, Foudation for Research, Science and Technology
Tel 04 498 7843, Mobile 025 248 33 93, jim@frst.govt.nz
Madeleine Setchell, Foundation for Research Science and Technology
Tel 04 498 7806, Mobile 025 40 60 40, madelein@frst.govt.nz