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Headlines 11 Doctoral Scholarships Danica Hamlin University of Auckland Early brain changes in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) $152,727 CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repetitive head knocks and often seen in contact sports players. Danica will explore the role of inflammation in CTE, to understand if this process triggers the production of abnormal tau protein that is involved in brain cell degeneration. To do this, she will examine human brain tissue and use cell culture models to model inflammation and brain injury. Yuge Liu University of Auckland Development of targeted therapy for the treatment of glioblastoma $152,727 This project aims to develop a GBM treatment that is tumour-specific, allowing cancer drugs to cross the blood- brain barrier (BBB) and accumulate in tumour tissue. Conventional chemotherapy is ineffective in treating Glioblastoma (GBM) because of its inability to cross the BBB. To overcome this obstacle, Yuge will explore a conjugate of a type of dye known to cross the BBB, with the addition of anti-cancer metal agents, such as Cisplatin, which are widely used in chemotherapy drugs. If successful, this strategy will vastly improve the therapeutic benefit to patients and decrease unwanted side effects. Harriet Spoelstra University of Auckland Identification of biofluid biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease $152,727 This project will advance efforts of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinics (DPRCs) to identify a ‘biomarker signature’ that predicts development of the disease. Dementia is a growing health problem in New Zealand. Successful administration of future therapeutics will require biomarkers to screen for who will benefit most. Blood-based biomarkers are ideal as they are cost-effective and easily accessible. However, more research is needed. Conference and Training Course Grants The Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR) $20,000 AWCBR is themajor congress for neuroscience in Aotearoa, with a strong Australian presence and other international registrants. This conference grant will subsidise the travel costs of students and early career researchers (ECRs) in Aotearoa presenting their research at the annual meeting in August 2024. Australian and New Zealand Society for Neuropathology (ANZSNP) (supported by the Hackett Memorial Trust) $8,472 To sponsor Professor Arie Perry, a Professor of Neuropathology at theUniversity of California San Francisco, to attend as a keynote speaker at theAustralian andNewZealandSociety for Neuropathology (ANZSNP) Annual ScientificMeeting in Queenstown, whichwill occur as part of theAWCBR. Professor Perry is aworld expert in brain tumour diagnosis. Travel Grants Dr Christina Buchanan Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research, Queenstown $2,487 Dr Jennifer Hamilton University of Canterbury Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research, Queenstown $1,450 Kiri Barr-Glintborg University of Canterbury European Brain and Behaviour conference, Amsterdam $2,750 Dr Michael Garelja University of Otago International Headache Congress, Seoul $4,249 Dr Bruce Harland University of Auckland Australasian Neurotrauma Symposium, Brisbane $2,030 Dr Brad Raos University of Auckland Australasian Neurotrauma Symposium, Brisbane $1,271 Dr Molly Swanson University of Auckland Training at the University of Wollongong $2,920 Associate Professor Joanna Williams University of Otago Australasian Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, Brisbane $1,285