New funding for innovative biomedical research

News Release
 

7 June 2007

STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY 7 JUNE 2007

New funding announced for innovative biomedical research

Exciting and complex biomedical research forms part of a number of research grants awarded to Dunedin health researchers today by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) in its annual funding round.

The HRC is the principal Government agency responsible for funding health research in New Zealand.

Dr Robin Olds, HRC Chief Executive, says this year’s funding round was very competitive and the successful research teams showed the potential to conduct world-class research.

“Biomedical research is an integral part of the overall health research effort. The HRC sees real value in the internationally competitive biomedical research to be undertaken by the research groups in the University of Otago at Dunedin,” he says.

Understanding the brain’s ability to protect and repair itself when faced with debilitating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease is the focus of a new project led by Professor Wickliffe Abraham at the University of Otago.  The group will investigate how a neuroprotective protein, secreted amyloid precursor protein-alpha, characteristically low in Alzheimer’s disease, regulates normal memory function. 

Dr Tony Merriman from the University of Otago will further current research into genetic links to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a debilitating autoimmune disease that affects around one per cent of the population, peaking in individuals 40-60 years, but can occur at any age.  This project will look at a gene called GRIK2, characterising its role in RA and provide a potential basis for design of therapeutic treatments.

Funding has also been extended for three major Dunedin based research programmes, including research into new cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. The programme, led by Professor Anthony Braithwaite from the University of Otago, will use an additional $2.6 million to build on its existing research.

The goal of the programme is to identify common pathways of cancer cell survival and as a consequence, develop new ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. The team will also be collaborating with the Auckland Cancer Research Society, which is involved in ground breaking cancer research.
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