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14 Headlines Summer Studentships Alastair Hadlow, University of Otago Investigating the role of TRIM46 in axon regeneration $6,000 Proudly supported by W.D. Robins Grace Johnstone, University of Otago Patterns of practice in cognitive & neuropsychological testing in Aotearoa New Zealand $6,000 Proudly supported by W.D. Robins Harriet Spoelstra, University of Otago The relationship between the memory enhancing molecule sAPPa and the cell surface expression of NMDA-glutamate receptors $6,000 Proudly supported by N&C Anderson First Fellowship Dr Michael Garelja, University of Auckland Mapping migraines: Widening the net beyond CGRP $191,177 New drugs targeting the CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) system have been approved to treat migraine but are only effective in half of patients and can have severe intestinal side-effects. This fellowship will map the distribution of CGRP-related receptors in neural tissue. The results will help explain how current drugs work, and how we might improve on them. Proudly supported by the Barker family Doctoral Scholarships Brooke Hawker, University of Auckland Transplantation of 3D encapsulated directly reprogrammed human-induced oligodendrocyte precursor cells (hiOPCs) for remyelination therapy to treat multiple sclerosis $117,953 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating autoimmune disease in which oligodendrocytes and myelin are lost. This team has developed the ability to convert human skin cells into oligodendrocyte precursor cells (hiOPCs). This project aims to demonstrate the ability of hiOPCs to remyelinate and restore nerve function in a mouse model of MS, highlighting the therapeutic potential of hiOPC transplantation for MS. Proudly supported by Peter and Wendy Gillespie Alice McDouall, University of Auckland Diagnosis and treatment of mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy with erythropoietin, (two years only) $81,388 This research will help to develop a treatment to prevent brain damage in babies who have suffered mild oxygen deprivation at birth. The project will test if the drug erythropoietin prevents brain damage after mild oxygen deprivation. Proudly supported by Peter and Wendy Gillespie Caroline Stokes, University of Otago Identifying superheroes in neurodegenerative disease $124,538 "Genetic superheroes" are individuals who harbour disease- causing genetic mutations and yet remain healthy thanks to the presence of a second variant in a "superhero gene". This project will screen for superhero genes in a novel human neuronal model to help generate new therapeutic targets for a range of brain diseases. VJ Chapman Fellowship Dr Imogene Scott, University of British Columbia Neuropsychiatric symptoms and their neuroimaging correlates in presymptomatic mutation carriers of familial frontotemporal dementia $125,200 This study will look at carriers of a genetic mutation found in 40% of all dementia cases. The project will observe changes in these patient’s behaviour and cognition as well as changes on MRI scans before dementia develops to detect signs of the disease at an earlier stage. Philip Wrightson Fellowship Blake Highet, University of Utah Virus-like propagation of Alzheimer’s disease pathology: the role of Arc and neuronal extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer’s disease $166,584 Within brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients, there is progressive accumulation of toxic protein aggregates, leading to impaired neuronal function. This project aims to uncover whether a recently identified novel mechanism of neuronal communication plays a role in the spread of these toxic proteins. More about the recipients can be found on our website at: neurological.org.nz/research/funded-projects/2021- round-b-grant-recipients