Who We AreThe Primary Function
The primary function of our committees is to consider applications for funding and make recommendations to Council. Council will give due consideration to these recommendations before reaching any decision in the matter of making any grants or allocations of Foundation funding. Committee members may also be invited by Council to provide expert comment on any aspect of the Foundation’s aims and processes
Committee membership is balanced and diverse, considering geography, institution, gender, and career stage. Our pool of experts includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and neuroscientists with expertise ranging from basic science to clinical trials and commercialisation of research.
The Personal Awards Committee
The PAC was established in 2019 to consider applications for studentships, scholarships, and fellowships.
The Scientific Advisory Committee
The SAC considers applications for research projects, conferences, and training courses. Prior to 2019, the SAC considered all applications for funding. With the help of the SAC, the Neurological Foundation has been able to fund over $11 million of research into neurological conditions over the past 5 years.
Our expert committee members are an integral part of the Foundation, and we’d like you to meet them:
Professor John Dalrymple-Alford
Scientific Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Professor of Psychology in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury, Adjunct Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Director of Neuropsychology and Co-ordinator of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinic, New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch
Associate Professor Bronwyn Kivell
Scientific Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Scott Graham
Personal Awards Committee Co-Chair
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging at the University of Auckland, member of the Centre for Brain Research
Dr Louise Bicknell
Personal Awards Committee Co-Chair
Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Pathology at the University of Otago
Associate Professor Lynley Bradnam
Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Sciences at the University of Auckland and a New Zealand registered physiotherapist
Professor Colin Brown
Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago, member of the Brain Health Research Centre, the Centre for Neuroendocrinology and the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery
Professor Winston Byblow
Professor in the Department of Exercise Sciences at the University of Auckland, Director of the Movement Neuroscience Laboratory and member of the Centre for Brain Research Advisory Board
Dr Paul Drury
Anaesthetic Registrar at Middlemore Hospital and Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Physiology at the University of Auckland
Dr Erin Cawston
Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Auckland, Dementia Prevention Research Clinic Blood Bank Research Fellow, Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Nicholas Child
Neurologist at Auckland District Health Board
Dr Andrew Clarkson
Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago and a member of the Brain Health Research Centre
Dr James Cleland
Neurologist at Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Dr Catherine Crofts
Senior Lecturer (Pharmacology) School of Interprofessional Health Studies, Auckland University of Technology and a NZ registered pharmacist
Professor Tim David
Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury and Honorary Professor at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Associate Professor Patries Herst
Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Therapy at the University of Otago
Associate Professor Stephanie Hughes
Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, member of the Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Joanne Lin
Research Fellow in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland and a NZ-registered pharmacist
Associate Professor Liana Machado
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Neuroscience Programme at the University of Otago, and member of Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Susan Mahon
Senior Lecturer Psychology, Programme Leader Rehabilitation Psychology Programme, in the School of Clinical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology, and member of Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Ailsa McGregor
Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Otago, member of Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Tracy Melzer
Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago, Christchurch; MRI Research Manager at the New Zealand Brain Research Institute; and Principal Investigator with Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Simon O’Carroll
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging at the University of Auckland, Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Facility in the Centre for Brain Research
Associate Professor Sam Schwarzkopf
Associate Professor for neuroimaging and psychophysics at the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Auckland
Dr Jennifer Taylor
Neurologist at Capital and Coast District Health Board
Dr Toni Pitcher
Senior Research Fellow at University of Otago, Christchurch and the New Zealand Brain Research Institute, and Associate Investigator with Brain Research New Zealand
Dr Shakila Rizwan
Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Otago, member of the Brain Health Research Centre and a registered pharmacist
Professor Lynette Sadleir
Paediatric Epileptologist and physician researcher in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Otago, Wellington
Dr Emma Scotter
Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Auckland, member of the Centre for Brain Research and Brain Research New Zealand, head of the Motor Neuron Disease laboratory
Dr Fredrick Sundram
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland and a Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at North Shore Hospital
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