Neurosurgical Research Foundation

GRANTS HISTORY:

A Total of $3,501,367 neurosurgical research has been funded by the NRF since 1963.

Between 1963 and 1987, grants of $90,000 were awarded.
Between 1993 – 2008, grants of $770,132 were made to support neurosurgical research projects in most states of Australia.
The NRF Chair of Neurosurgical Research was established in 1992 when the first Professor was appointed. The campaign was realised in 2004 when the NRF Chair of Neurosurgery was established by a permanent endowment of $1.8 million from the NRF.
In 2006 a second position at the University of Adelaide the Abbie Simspon Clinical fellowship was launched with an initial donation of a $500,000 the first contribution to the University was made. In 2008 this Appeal was completed with a donation of $300,000 from the NRF to the University of Adelaide.

NRF Grants 2008 $366,000

NRF Grants 2008 $18,000 to go towards Brain Tumour research
Associate Professor Mounir Ghabriel and Professor Alan Nimmo of the University of Adelaide. Swelling (oedema) around tumours, which is an important determinant of patient outcome. It is known that the cerebral blood vessels in and around brain tumours become ‘leaky’, and that this underlies the development of the oedema, however, the mechanisms for this change in vascular permeability are unknown. Research in head injury and stroke undertaken at the Centre for Neurological Diseases suggests that neuropeptides play a key role in changing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in these conditions and may therefore offer a new approach to the management of peritumoural oedema.

The second research question focuses on the way cancerous cells enter the brain through the blood-brain barrier which normally prevents cells crossing into the brain.

They will examine whether neuropeptides play any role in enabling these cancerous cells to cross the blood-brain barrier and so facilitate secondary tumour development.

Joan Estelle Hutchesson Estate Bequest
$48,000 to go towards Parkinson’s Disease research
The NRF has been fortunate to receive a bequest of just over $48,000 from Joan Estelle Hutchesson, who died in 2006. Mrs Hutchesson directed that the bequest be used specifically for research into Parkinson’s Disease.
The NRF is pleased to announce that Prof. Robert Vink, whose team has undertaken studies into this condition, will receive this grant over two years. Prof. Vink.
“Accordingly, this project will use a model of Parkinson’s Disease to examine the role of substance P in the disease, focusing on whether the neuropeptide is increased in the early stages of the disease.”
Abbie Simpson Clinical Fellowship – University of Adelaide.
$300,000 granted to the University of Adelaide to complete this fellowship.

GRANTS Funded 2007 by the NRF $85,000 Total
Studying the Role of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) in Modulating Neurotrauma. Investigators: Dr Corinne Van Den Heuval and Associate Professor Roberto Cappai. The Research Committee recommends a grant of $30,000
Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs): A Population Based Study and Survey of Neurosurgical Practice Pattern Current investigators Professor Michael Morgan and colleagues inc Prof Brian Brophey of RAH.

NRF fund equipment to the value of $15,000 to enable Quantitative Approaches to Neurosurgical Research. Application from Prof Robert Vink, the NRF Chair of Neurosurgical Research at the University of Adelaide.

The RAAF has raised more than $25,000 to purchase critical research equipment for the NRF Chair of Neurosurgical Research at the University of Adelaide.

Abbie Simpson Clinical Fellowship – University of Adelaide.
$500,000 granted to the University of Adelaide to create this fellowship on Wednesday 16th August 2006.
GRANTS Funded 2006 by the NRF $60,000 Total
Combined Hypothermia and Magnesium as a Neuroprotective Therapy following Cerebral Ischaemia. N. Knuckey & B. Meloni The University of WA.

The NRF has awarded $15,000 to this group who will be examining the sequence of events after reduction in brain blood supply.
Evaluation of the role of ARAP3 as a suppressor of malignant glioma invasion.

A. Kaye, P. Lock University of Melbourne.
Professor Kaye’s group has a strong track record in the field of malignant brain tumours. The NRF will provide $15,000 to support a project that examines why these tumours spread through the brain.
NRF EQUIPMENT GRANT $30,000 to the University of Adelaide
$30,000 funded the Stereotaxic Digital Injector, research equipment.

This instrument will greatly facilitate the accurate delivery of drugs into the brain.
GRANTS Funded 2005 by the NRF $50,000 Total
NRF Chair of Neurosurgical Research – Prof Robert Vink –
University of Adelaide $50,000
Start up grant for the newly appointed Chair of Neurosurgical Research.

GRANTS Funded 2004 by the NRF $50,000 Total
Associate Professor Stoodley (Prince of Wales Hospital Sydney) and Professor Jones (Adelaide). $20,000
This application is about Post traumatic syringo-myelia (cystic change in the spinal cord following paraplgia).
Professor Andrew Kaye (Melbourne)
$15.000 The topic of malignant brain tumours (glioma).
Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld (Monash, Melbourne).
$15,000 Head injury research involving diffuse axonal injury in the rat model.

2003
Professor R Vink (AHIG) - $40,000 –
To the Adelaide Head Injury Group to purchase a Kodak Image Station 2000R valued at $80,000. The AHIG has managed to match the NRF $40,000 funding to cover the full purchase price.

2002
Professor P. Blumbergs (IMVS) - $20,000
The relationship between axonal and somal APP expression and cell death following traumatic nerve injury.
Dr. R. Sherrard (Townsville) - $20,000
Extending recovery after brain trauma: an assessment of the effect of insulin-like growth factor – 1 in extending the development of compensatory pathways.

2001
Prof. P Blumbergs, Prof. N Jones, Dr. J Finney Dr. B Koszyca &
Dr. C Vanden Heuvel
( University of Adelaide and Institute of Medical & Veterinary Science)
A pilot study of magnesium sulphate and cyclosporin A in closed head injury with 24 hour survival. $22,500
Dr. WW Blessing
Flinders University
Brain neurotransmitters mediating cutaneous vasoconstriction in response to painful trigeminal stimulation: the trigemino-raphe connection. $20,000

2000
Prof P Blumbergs, $25,683
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide
An evaluation of amyloid precurser protein following traumatic brain injury.
Dr R Vink $10,000
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland
Characterisation of cyclooxygenase activity as potential therapy following brain injury.