Sean Plunket joins Medical Research Foundation Board

Sean Plunket joins Wellington Medical Research Foundation Board

Sean Plunket, the media mentor and former Morning Report host, has accepted an invitation to join the board of the Wellington Medical Research Foundation as the Foundation, known as ‘Research for Life’ embarks on a programme to raise its profile and broaden its support base.

Foundation president Prof. John Nacey said, “Sean is a well-known and respected media personality who is enthusiastic about not only contributing to Foundation but to helping us advance the quality of healthcare in the Wellington region and beyond.”

Sean Plunket joins the Foundation’s existing Trustees Peter Barker, Professor Brett Delahunt, Terry Hall, Professor Athol Mann, Rob McGregor, Professor John Nacey and Gaeline Phipps.

Established in 1960, the Foundation funds innovative quality research undertaken by researchers in the early stages of their careers.

Last year, Research for Life made 19 research grants and 11 travel grants worth $202,000 in total. Recent projects funded included research into the basic understanding of cancer, kidney disease and conditions of particular concern in the Wellington region, such as asthma with grant recipients coming from the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research; Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Biological Sciences; the School of Medicine, Wellington Hospital; Massey University, Wellington; and ESR (The Institute of Environmental Science and Research).

“While we continue to provide a great deal of support to young researchers, we’re looking forward to fostering an increasing level of support over the next few years with the aim of enhancing our ability to work in partnership with the research community and increase the number of grants we make to local researchers,” John Nacey said.

ENDS

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