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FIRST FELLOWSHIPS continued Dr Lee-Anne Morris The University of Otago, Christchurch Mentor: Dr Campbell Le Heron $221,357 Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia This fellowship will investigate how common medications used in Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia affect motivation. Many people with these conditions experience apathy, which makes everyday tasks harder and lowers quality of life. The research project will test whether these medications help people feel more motivated by improving attention and decision-making. It will also look at brain scans to see if differences in brain structure affect how well the treatment works. The goal is to better understand how these drugs help, so doctors can tailor treatments to each person and improve care for people with dementia. Read more about this exciting research on page 18. Dr Hannah Hawley Massey University Mentors: Dr Helen Fitzsimons & Associate Professor Andrew Sutherland-Smith $201,015 Alzheimer’s disease This fellowship will explore new ways to treat brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease by targeting a protein called HDAC4, which forms harmful clumps in brain cells. The research project will use an animal model to test genetic and drug-based methods to break up these clumps and reduce their damaging effects. The goal is to help restore brain development and slow down degeneration. Although the work is early-stage, it could lead to future therapies for neurological diseases. The findings may help scientists better understand how brain cells malfunction in conditions linked to aging and memory loss. Read more about Hannah’s exciting research on page 14. SMALL PROJECT GRANTS Dr Salvador Lopez The University of Auckland $20,000 Spinal cord injury This research explores a new way to help people with spinal cord injuries regain better bladder control, helping to prevent infections and kidney problems. Using an animal model, the project will test a tiny implant that sends gentle electrical signals directly to the spinal cord. The goal is to help the nerves heal, and improve bladder function. If successful, this approach could lead to better treatments for people living with spinal cord injuries, improving their independence, comfort, and quality of life. Read more about this exciting project on page 8. Dr Anna Mackey Starship Research $18,183 Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy is a lifelong, childhood-onset neurological condition, and the most common cause of physical disability in childhood. There is no cure. Instead, treatments focus on symptom management and prevention of secondary complications. This project aims to better understand the healthcare services and support available to cerebral palsy patients and their families. It will combine information from the NZ Cerebral Palsy Register, ACC and Health NZ to see how services differ, including hospital visits, treatment costs, and access to care. The goal is to identify any unfair differences and help improve services. This information will support advocacy efforts for the Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ, and service planning, to help ensure everyone gets the care they need. Dr Trixy Ng & Dr Chris Hands Health NZ Te Toka Tumai Auckland $9,023 Stroke Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a specific type of stroke that has devastating consequences. Patients often spend time in the intensive care unit (ICU) for close monitoring, rapid diagnosis and treatment. However, specialists in this area are not united in the best approach to care for these patients. This research involves collecting data to understand how different treatments are used in different ICUs. It will identify differences in approaches across Australia and New Zealand – the first step in an ongoing search to provide the best possible care. 12 Headlines