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Headlines 11 Dr Yiwen Zheng, University of Otago Synaptic plasticity: Mechanisms underlying auditory- limbic interaction in tinnitus generation and perception $208,633 Chronic tinnitus, a phantom sound, is a debilitating condition that detrimentally affects quality of life. Treatment options are very limited and often not effective. Dr Zheng’s project will investigate how neuroinflammation and changes in the ability of neurons to communicate in critical brain areas in the auditory and non-auditory systems are involved in tinnitus development and consolidation, using an animal model of tinnitus. The results will significantly improve our current understanding of tinnitus, which may lead to the development of effective treatments. Small Project Grants Dr Jacki Henderson, University of Canterbury Sleep disturbance in paediatric mild traumatic brain injury $14,910 This study will provide critical understanding of the types and the nature of sleep problems in children following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Dr Andrea Kwakowsky, University of Auckland Understanding the link between GABAergic inhibition deficit and cognitive decline in Huntington’s disease $15,000 With co-investigators Sir Richard Faull and Associate Professor Henry Waldvogel, Dr Kwakowsky will investigate why Huntington’s disease patients experience learning and memory deficits years before the onset of motor symptoms. Dr Michael Maslin, University of Canterbury Gaze-evoked tinnitus: a unique opportunity to study the relationship between tinnitus perception and abnormal brain activity $11,700 This study will compare the brain waves of tinnitus sufferers who can turn “on” and “off” the condition by moving their eyes to the left or right, with those who are "on" all the time. Dr Melanie McConnell, Victoria University of Wellington Creating a modular, customisable pre-clinical model of glioblastoma $14,845 Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancer with the worst outcomes. To better understand how brain cancers develop, this project will develop customised brain cancer cells in the lab using different combinations of genetic mutations. Fellowships Dr Whitney Whitford, University of Auckland, Dawn Fellowship Proudly funded by the Dawn Estate. Characterising the mutational spectrum of variants in Charcot-Marie-Tooth in New Zealand See story on pages 8-9. $330,747 Dr Ruth Monk, University of Auckland First Fellowship What does the nose know about Parkinson's disease? $208,976 Dr Rachael Sumner, University of Auckland First Fellowship Why does the menstrual cycle increase seizures for many women with epilepsy? Investigating the neurosteroid withdrawal hypothesis of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy $216,356 Dr Deidre Jansson, University of Auckland Senior Research Fellowship Defining the role of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in cognitive decline with critical illness $221,193 Dr Zoe Dyer, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research Chapman Fellowship Exploring the mechanisms of immune reconstitution therapy for Multiple Sclerosis $125,200 Dr Vivian Fu, University of Calgary Chapman Fellowship TeleTaCAS: a prospective, multi-country, investigator- blinded, randomised controlled trial to compare the efficacy of two Take Charge sessions by telehealth versus control in improving health-related quality of life at 12 months after stroke $181,800 Dr Hannah Jones, Starship Clinical Research Operations Senior Clinical Research Fellowship Investigating the role of innate immune mechanisms in autoimmune encephalitis, autoimmune movement disorders and neurodevelopment in children $145,748