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Backing life-changing research Grant round 2025A Congratulations to all the outstanding researchers who received a share of the $2.5 million awarded in our first grant round of 2025. Thanks to our supporters, we’ve been able to fund 21 research, education, and travel grants. This year’s funding reached across Aotearoa, with grants awarded in Auckland, Gisborne, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch, and spanning a wide range of neurological conditions affecting New Zealanders. There was also strong support for early-career researchers and projects led by women. Together, these grants will help improve diagnosis, advance treatment, and drive discoveries that make a tangible difference for people living with neurological conditions. Thank you to all our grant recipients for your dedication to improvingbrain health for all NewZealanders. PROJECT GRANTS Dr William Diprose, Professor Alan Barber & Dr Doug Campbell Health NZ Te Toka Tumai Auckland $299,167 Stroke Ischaemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, causing brain damage, disability, and even death. Clot retrieval, a procedure to pull out the clot, can save lives, but delays in reaching specialised hospitals in New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch) often lead to irreversible damage. Lowering a patient’s brain temperature in the ambulance or helicopter on the way to hospital may slow this damage. This study will test whether using a cooling cap during transport and during the clot retrieval procedure itself can protect the brain, reduce long-term disability, and improve outcomes for stroke patients. Dr Maryam Tayebi Mātai Medical Research Institute $299,062 Methamphetamine addiction Methamphetamine (meth) is a huge problem across New Zealand, costing the country up to $1.6 billion annually, and disproportionately impacting disadvantaged communities. This project is using advanced MRI brain scanning to investigate how meth addiction affects the brain, and to track changes in the brains of people receiving treatment. The goal is to find signs that show who is likely to stay drug-free and who might relapse. This research could lead to more personalised treatments, making a big difference in how meth addiction is managed, and helping more people successfully overcome addiction. Pictured from top left: Professor Alan Barber, Dr Doug Campbell and Dr William Diprose 10 Headlines