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Associate Professor Megan Wilson, University of Otago – Dunedin Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis $143,155 Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common condition that causes the spine to curve abnormally, affecting 1-5% of teenagers worldwide. Despite its prevalence, we still don’t know what causes it. By combining genetics, imaging, and practical interventions, this study aims to uncover new ways to treat this condition. This research will focus on the body’s ability to sense its position in space – a factor linked to AIS – and will investigate how exercise might improve this sense of body awareness and slow scoliosis progression. SMALL PROJECT GRANTS Dr Renee Handley, University of Auckland Alzheimer’s disease $15,000 Could a ‘one and done’ treatment for Alzheimer’s disease be on the horizon? It is well known that a sticky protein called amyloid-beta accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease, but only recently has it has been shown that reducing amyloid-beta levels can actually slow the loss of brain function in patients. This research is focused on developing a one-time genetic therapy that targets DNA to reduce amyloid production and prevent its accumulation altogether. Associate Professor Melanie McConnell, Victoria University of Wellington Brain cancer $14,090 Understanding what drives the growth of a brain tumour is imperative to developing treatments. In this project, the team will investigate whether a protein called BCL6 is one of the 'drivers' of brain tumour growth, using a pre-clinical model. If confirmed, the next step will be to work out how to target BCL6 in brain tumours, by re- purposing BCL6 blockers developed for other cancer types. DAWN FELLOWSHIP Kyrah Thumbadoo, mentored by Dr Emma Scotter, University of Auckland Motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia $242,205 Motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal conditions that cause muscle paralysis, and cognitive changes, respectively. This research will use stem cells from a family in New Zealand and Australia that have a mutation in the UBQLN2 gene. The stem cells will be used to grow motor neurons in the lab to understand how the UBQLN2 gene causes MND/FTD, how it affects men and women differently, and its potential as a drug target. Generously funded by the Dawn Estate. FIRST FELLOWSHIPS Miran Mrkela, mentored by Associate Professor Emma Scotter, University of Auckland Motor neuron disease $243,020 Motor neuron disease (MND) is a devastating condition that affects nerve cells controlling muscles, leading to weakness and paralysis, with New Zealand having one of the highest rates of MND globally. This fellowship will create cell models of rare MND genetic variants in the lab, to observe how the genetic changes disrupt normal cell function and lead to the disease. Dr Sreemol Gokuladhas, mentored by Professor Justin O’Sullivan, University of Auckland Multiple sclerosis $231,460 Many people with multiple sclerosis experience significant delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis. This fellowship will use data from multiple sclerosis patients to discover potential biomarkers and develop a model for earlier and more accurate diagnosis. It will also investigate genetic causes of multiple sclerosis. CONFERENCE GRANTS Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research 1-4 September 2025, Christchurch Granted $20,000 Australasian Neuroscience Society: Australasian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (ACAN) 19 January – 8 February 2025, University of New South Wales Granted $14,000 Functional Neurological Disorder: Language Matters One-day Symposium 22 April 2025, Victoria University of Wellington Granted $7,686.50 14 Headlines