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NEUROLOGICAL FOUNDATION New Zealand’s premier annual neuroscience conference was postponed twice due to COVID-19. The Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research is now scheduled for August 2022. We have extended the funding dates for grants for this conference to support researchers to attend this important event. In 2021, we awarded four international fellowships – one supporting a neuroscientist to research Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Utah, and three for trainee neurologists to undertake research in Canada and Australia. Travel restrictions delayed the start of these fellowships, but now all four fellows are overseas and underway. Round 2021B TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED: $9.7M. AWARDED: $2.6M TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS: 66 AWARDED: 18 Round 2021A TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED: $10.4M. AWARDED: $2.3M. TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS: 70 AWARDED: 20 Dr Thomas Park was investigating methods to slow the spread of glioblastoma tumours when COVID-19 hit. The lab, based at the Centre for Brain Research, was immediately shut down. “When the first local COVID-19 case was announced in 2020, all tissue donations were immediately halted for over 12 months until more was understood about the novel virus. This greatly hampered our progress in the lab.” Dr Park’s project has received two COVID-19 extensions to ensure this critical research is seen through to the end. COVID-19 DISRUPTED 49 NEUROLOGICAL FOUNDATION RESEARCH GRANTS IN THIS FINANCIAL YEAR INVESTING IN THE BEST RESEARCH Our rigorous approval process means your donations are granted to only the highest quality research. Our goal is to fund people and projects with the greatest potential to improve the understanding of, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, or management of neurological conditions. All applications undergo assessment from an independent panel of experts – either our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) or Personal Awards Committee (PAC). Their recommendations must then be approved by the Foundation’s Council before any grants are awarded. We are extremely grateful to the members of our committees who volunteer their time to support our process. Every year hundreds of international experts also volunteer their time to review our large project applications. We couldn’t do what we do without their generous support. 8