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Funded Research Projects
The Research projects supported by the Foundation have
not only improved medical care in the Wellington region,
but have also contributed significantly to medical
advancement in New Zealand and internationally.
The Foundation is a voluntary association that receives
its entire funding through donations, subscriptions and
bequests.
The Foundation has encouraged and financially supported
a wide range of research projects that would otherwise
not have been possible.
One of the Foundation's aims is to highlight the
essential benefits of medical research and to emphasise
that anyone can support research and thus make a vital
investment in the health of the community - our
community !
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The intimate connection between research and high quality medical practice has been recognised for more than a century. In 1910 the influential US educationalist, Abraham Flexner, asserted that research and medical practice were “one in spirit, method and object”. This is as true now as it was then.
Research is one of the central interests of the University of Otago Wellington, and research in turn strongly informs our other key activities of teaching and community service. The Wellington Medical Research Foundation supports essential health research which in turn provides the foundation for the provision of high quality health care services and high quality teaching of health professionals in our region.
Professor Peter Crampton
Dean and Head of Campus
University of Otago Wellington |
Consistent with the resources available to it, the Wellington Medical Research Foundation funds all forms of medical research with the sole criterion being scientific merit. Grants are made only to researchers who carry out scientific medical research in the Wellington region.
The Foundation receives no government assistance. We
rely solely on subscriptions, donations and bequests.
Please join us in supporting
medical research.
2009 - Project Grants
The following projects were approved for funding in 2009 and will be reported on in subsequent Research Reviews of the Foundation.
2009 - April
The WMRF makes grants in April and October of each year. The successful applicants in the April 2009 round and summaries of their projects are set out below.
Alan Clark - Victoria University of Wellington
Kinetic and fluorometric studies on mechanisms of inhibition of human prostaglandin D synthase.
Prostaglandins (PG) are a family of structurally related eicosanoids that have regulatory roles in both normal physiological and pathological contexts. The outcomes of this work are expected to provide a substantial platform from which structure-based drug design initiatives can be developed.
Bronwyn Kivell - Victoria University of Wellington
Investigating Novel Compounds to Treat Addiction
The long term goal of this study is to identify the cellular mechanism by which novel and traditional components modulate the function of the dopamine transporter. Benefits may also include the development of therapeutic drugs to treat addiction.
Chandra Kirana - The Wakefield Biomedical Research Unit
Protein Biomarkers for Predicting Colorectal Cancer Spread.
This project aims to identify biomarkers which can stratify CRC patients according to their risk of subsequent spread.
Ellen Woodcock - University of Otago, Wellington
Characteristics of Ventricular Fibrillation in an isolated perfused rabbit heart
Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation is a leading cause of mortality in western countries. This project will establish and validate an isolated perfused heart model in which ventricular fibrillation can be induced and studied.
Jason Low - Victoria University Wellington
Can children with autism use inner speech to support working memory?
The results of this study will provide an accurate picture of the interface between language and executive functioning amongst children with autism. Information from the study will aid in the design of more targeted and effective cognitive interventions for the population at a clinical and grassroots level.
Jeremy Krebs - Diabetes Research Centre, Wellington Hospital
The effects of caffeine and coffee on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in healthy and diabetic subjects.
The objective of this study is to determine the effect of a single dose of caffeine versus placebo, and caffeinated coffee versus decaffeinated coffee, on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in men and women with and without type 2 diabetes.
Joyce Colussi-Mas - Victoria University of Wellington
Use of in vivo microdialysis to measure neurochemical consequences of MDMA self-administration.
The aim of this research is to determine neurochemical correlates of drug self-administration. The information will ultimately lead to a greater understanding of the neurochemistry of compulsive drug use and will help to inform effective therapeutic interventions.
Lynette Sadler - University of Otago, Wellington
Genetics of Epilepsy
The objectives of this study are to describe the clinical and genetic features of epilepsies in families with many affected individuals. Finding new epilepsy syndromes and the genes responsible for these will allow more accurate diagnosis and prognosis, and lead to novel improved therapies.
Mike Berridge - Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Investigating immunotherapy targeted at tumour stem cells within brain tumours.
This grant will facilitate the purchase of stereotoxic equipment to inject tumour cells. This in turn will enable the researches to model immunotherapy of brain tumours and leukaemias with CNS involvement.
Penelope Truman - Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd.
Tobacco smoke as an addictive substance – more than just the devil we know.
This study will assist in the overall objective of developing improved pharamacological aids to smoking cessation and thus in helping people to quit smoking.
Sally Eyers - University of Otago, Wellington
Effect of regular paracetamol on asthma control in mild to moderate asthma.
The aims of this study are to determine whether the regular use of paracetamol in subjects with mild to moderate asthma leads to an increase in asthma severity, and to determine whether the regular use of paracetamol influences the key physiological, clinical and immunological characteristics of asthma.
Shieak Tzeng - University of Otago, Wellington
Baroreflex Sensitivity in Heart Failure
The objective of this project is to determine whether breathing frequency modulates baroreflex sensitivity in healthy subjects and patients with congestive heart failure.
Trols Petersen - Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Characterisation of cross-presenting langerin-positive dendritic cells in the spleen
The potential significance of this project is that because of the range of the functions attributed to dendritic cells as a whole, it is important to establish whether all effector functions are carried out by the same DCs or whether different functions are carried out by different subsets. It then becomes possible to specifically target and manipulate individual DC subsets clinically in a range of diseases.
Vinko Besic - The Wakefield Biomedical Research Unit
A study of hepatic insulin receptor signalling using si RNA-based gene silencing.
The information expected to come from this series of experiments will advance knowledge concerning the defects in hepatic insulin signalling which may be associated with the type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Past projects include research on:
- Asthma
- Respiratory symptoms in New Zealand horse trainers
- MHC polymorphism in Pacific Island populations
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Diabetes
- Research Fellow at Malaghan Institute
- Ecosystem health and gastrointestinal disease
- Premature ageing
- Cellular telephone use and tumours of the brain, head and neck
- Mineral ion reservoirs in dental plaque
- A greater knowledge of the mechanisms of inflammatory kidney disease and kidney cancer
- Development of diagnostic procedures for management of abdominal pain thereby reducing the need for surgery
- Elucidation of factors modifying plaque deposition on teeth
- Contributing causes of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- An understanding of the role of the immune system in the development of malignancy
- Development of a blood test to detect some cancers
- Greater understanding of the nature of multiple sclerosis
Research reports from 2005 onwards can be downloaded from the reports section under 'Research Review'. |
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