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Travel Grants Travel grants provide support for medical researchers who wish to present their research at a meeting or conference. Funds may also be provided to support a training course on research methods and/or for visiting a laboratory to learn a new research technique. Apply now 2024 26 awards $97,733 2022 9 awards $22,621 ​ 2021 10 awards $12,033 2020 16 awards $43,735 2023 40 awards $137,441 ​ Dr Tim Angeli ($4,000 – 6624001) 2024 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the International Gastrointestinal Electrophysiology Society Conference and the Digestive Disease Week Conference, Washington DC, USA, and a presentation at a medical device company in the USA, Lenexa USA, 16 - 27 May 2024. Dr Recep Avic ($3,089 – 6624002) 2024 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC 2024), Orlando, USA and Lab Visit at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA, 14 - 24 July 2024. Dr Jennifer Barrowclough ($4,000 – 6624003) 2024 Midwifery, Auckland University of Technology Attendance and presentation at the Cochrane Colloquium 2024, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 Aug - 14 Sept 2024. Dr Yadi Chen ($3,359 – 6624004) 2024 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology 2024 Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA, 5 - 9 May 2024. Dr Simerdeep Dhillon ($4,000 – 6624005) 2024 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Hershey conference on developmental brain injury in Marstrand, Sweden, and the annual Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society meeting, Nottingham, UK, 9 - 22 June 2024. Dr Jarrah Dowrick ($4,000 – 6624006) 2024 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the International Gastrointestinal Electrophysiology Society Conference and the Digestive Disease Week Conference, Washington DC, USA, 16 - 24 May 2024. Dr Bruce Harland ($4,000 – 6624007) 2024 School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Gordon Conference on Advances and challenges in Neurotech development and translation, Galveston, USA, 8 - 15 March 2024. Dr Neera Jain ($4,000 – 6624008) 2024 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at AMEE: The International Association for Health Professions Education annual meeting, and meet with UK collaborators regarding ongoing research project, Basel, Switzerland, 23 Aug - 6 Sept 2024. Dr Luling Lin ($4,000 – 6624009) 2024 Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Global Evidence Summit 2024, Prague, Czech Republic, 7 - 13 September 2024. Dr Salvador Lopez ($4,000 – 6624010) 2024 School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the World Biomaterials Conference 2024 in Daegu, South Korea, 26 - 31 May 2024. A/Prof Eileen Lueders ($3,925 – 6624011) 2024 School of Psychology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the annual international conference of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), Seoul, Korea, 23 - 27th June 2024. Dr Sanjay Marasini ($4,000 – 6624012) 2024 Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Seattle, USA, 5 - 9 May 2024. Dr Kimberly Mellor ($4,000 – 6624013) 2024 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 2024 Meeting of Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms Gordon Research Conference, New London, USA, 22 - 29 June 2024. Dr Mariana Muelbert ($1,670 – 6624014) 2024 Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) Annual Congress, Christchurch, NZ, 7 - 10 April 2024. Dr Mridula Pachen ($4,000 – 6624015) 2024 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 2024 American Physiology SUMMIT, Long Beach, USA, 3 - 8 April 2024. Dr Nadun Palmada ($3,000 – 6624016) 2024 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the International Conference on Food and Digestion (ICFD) 2024, Porto, Portugal, 6 - 12 April 2024. A/Prof Rachael Parke ($3,505 – 6624017) 2024 School of Nursing, The University of Auckland Collaborative research visit to Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation and King's College London to explore virtual visiting to improve equity of family access to intensive care, London, UK, 1 Sept - 13 Oct 2024. Dr Beau Pontre ($4,000 – 6624018) 2024 Dept. of Anatomy & Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the I2024 MR in RT symposium, Rome, Italy, and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 2024), Glasgow, UK and a visit to UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, 1 Apr - 8 May 2024. Dr Farha Ramzan ($3,892 – 6624019) 2024 Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV 2024), Melbourne, Australia, 7 - 13 May 2024. Dr Manuela Romano ($4,000 – 6624020) 2024 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) annual conference, Vancouver, Canada, 29 May - 1 June 2024. Dr Pushkar Silwal ($3,960 – 6624021) 2024 School of Optometry, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the ‘2030 IN SIGHT LIVE 2024’ event organised by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Mexico City, Mexico, 23 - 29 June 2024. Dr Sarah Ward ($3,571 – 6624022) 2024 Dept. of Exercise Sciences, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis 2024, Vienna, Austria, 18 - 21 April 2024. Dr Petra White ($3,770 – 6624023) 2024 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Hershey Conference on Developmental Brain Injury, Marstrand, Sweden, 11 - 14 June 2024. A/Prof Siouxsie Wiles ($3,992 – 6624024) 2024 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the New Antibacterial Discovery and Development Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, USA, 11 - 22 Mar 2024. Dr Deborah Wilson ($4,000 – 6624025) 2024 Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Attendance and presentation at the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) Conference then meetings at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Center for Indigenous Health and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON), Washington DC and Baltimore Maryland, USA, 26 May. Dr Kelly Zhou ($4,000 – 6624026) 2024 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Hershey conference on developmental brain injury in Marstrand, Sweden, and the annual Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society meeting, Nottingham, UK, 9 - 22 June 2024. Dr Zoe Woolf ($3,630 – 6623040) 2023 Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Society of NeuroOncology Annual Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 15 - 19 November 2023. Dr Craig Webster ($4,000 – 6623039) 2023 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, The University of Auckland Accommodation costs to attend and present at the Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room, and to meet with co-authors regarding major new Textbook, New York, USA, 7 - 13 September 2023. Dr Winston Tan ($4,000 – 6623038) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 58th Inner Ear Biology Workshop, London, UK, 3 - 5 September 2023. Dr Farha Ramzan ($2,672 – 6623037) 2023 Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ANZSEV 2023), Adelaide, Australia, 7 - 11 November 2023. Dr Amelia Power ($1,097 – 6623036) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at Queenstown Research Week MedSci Congress 2023, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 - 30 August 2023. Dr Raewyn Poulsen ($4,000 – 6623035) 2023 Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Attendance and invited presentation at the Gout, Hyperuricemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network (GCAN) conference, laboratory visit to establish collaboration, and attendance and presentation at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence, San Diego, USA, 7 - 15 November 2023. Dr Simon O’Carroll ($782 – 6623034) 2023 Dept. of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland Collaborator visit at University of Queensland, Australia and attendance and presentation at the Australasian Neurotrauma Workshop, University of Queensland, Australia, 28 November - 3 December 2023. Dr Aleksandra Milosavljevic ($3,993 – 6623033) 2023 School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Attendance and invited presentation at the International Society of Pharmacovigilance Conference, Bali, Indonesia, 6 - 9 November 2023. Dr Mia Mclean ($3,967 – 6623032) 2023 Psychology & Neuroscience, Auckland University of Technology Fostering and establishing research collaborations at Tilburg University, Netherlands and University of Pavia, Italy, and attendance and presentation at the 2nd Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development International Workshop on Naturalistic Experimentation of Child Development, University of London, London, UK, 2 - 25 September 2023. Dr Sien Yee (Sandy) Lau ($4,000 – 6623031) 2023 Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland Laboratory visit and presentation Columbus, USA, and attendance and presentation at the Society of Reproductive Investigations Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 7 - 16 March 2024. Dr Joanna Hikaka ($3,718 – 6623030) 2023 School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Attendance and invited presentation at the International Society of Pharmacovigilance Conference, Bali, Indonesia, 6 - 9 November 2023. Dr Angus Grey ($3,000 – 6623029) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 1st International Mass Spectrometry Imaging Society Meeting, IMSIS 2023, Montreal, Canada. 23 - 25 October 2023. Dr Chiara Gasteiger ($4,000 – 6623028) 2023 Dept. of Medicine, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence, San Diego, USA, 10 - 15 November 2023. Dr Rebecca Evans ($4,000 – 6623027) 2023 Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Meeting with collaborators at the French Longitudinal Study of Children (ELFE), Paris, France, and attendance and presentation at the SLLS conference, Munich, Germany, 25 September - 12 October Dr Rhea Himanshu Desai ($4,000 – 6623023) 2023 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, San Diego, USA, 9 - 12 December 2023. Dr David Crossman ($4,000 – 6623025) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Biophysical Society Meeting 2024, Philadelphia, USA, 10 - 15 February 2024. Dr Maize Cao ($4,000 – 6623024) 2023 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 34th International Symposium on ALS/MND, Basel, Switzerland, 6 - 8th December 2023. Dr Melissa Cadelis ($2,600 – 6623023) 2023 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the European Conference on Marine Natural Products, Granada, Spain, 3 - 8 September 2023. Dr Anna Boss ($2,145 – 6623022) 2023 Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland Attendance and invited workshop presentation at the International Federation of Placenta Associations meeting, Rotorua, New Zealand 5 - 8 September 2023. Dr Debbie Zhao ($4,000 – 6623003) 2023 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 12th International Conference on Functional Imaging and Modelling of the Heart (FIMH), Lyon, France and a laboratory visit to King's College London/Barts Health NHS, London, UK, 19 June - 14 July 2023. Dr Jie Zhang ($4,000 – 6623013) 2023 Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 2023 European Society of Ophthalmology meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 15 - 17 June 2023. Dr Sarah Ward ($4,000 – 6623011) 2023 Dept. of Exercise Science, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Denver, USA, 16 - 20 March 2023. Dr Vonne van Heeswijk ($4,000 – 6623015) 2023 Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at Spineweek 2023, Melbourne, Australia, 1 - 5 May 2023. A/Prof Simon Swift ($3,000 – 6623010) 2023 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attending multiple conferences on pathogens and the microbiome, and new concepts and approaches in microbiology, France, Scotland and Germany, 3 - 31 June 2023. Dr Julia Shanks ($4,000 – 6623008) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the American Physiology Summit 2023, Long Beach California, USA, 20 - 23 April 2023. Dr Ana Luiza Sayegh ($4,000 – 6623001) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the American Physiology Summit 2023, Long Beach California, USA, 20 - 23 April 2023. Dr Rhys Ponton ($4,000 – 6623017) 2023 School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Harm Reduction International (HRI) 2023 conference, Melbourne, Australia, 16 - 19 April 2023. Dr Mataroria Lyndon ($4,200 – 6623012) 2023 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 10th International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health, Tulsa, USA, 24 - 26 March 2023. Dr Annette Lasham ($3,290 – 6623016) 2023 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the 5th International Caparica Conference in SPLICING 2023, Caparica, Portugal, 16 - 19 July 2023. Dr Anna Howe ($3,000 – 6623020) 2023 Dept. of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference 2023, Perth, Australia, 19 - 21 June 2023. A/Prof Nuala Helsby ($4,000 – 6623006) 2023 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attendance, presentation and committee activity at 19th World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (WCP2023), Glasgow, Scotland, 2 - 7 July 2023. Dr Peter Freestone ($3,443 – 6623009) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the International Basal Ganglia Society (IBAGS) triennial meeting, Stockholm, Sweden, 13 - 16 June 2023. Dr Igor Felippe ($4,000 – 6623004) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the American Physiology Summit 2023, Long Beach California, USA, 20 - 23 April 2023, and visit a laboratory in Iowa. Dr Sophie Farrow ($2,866 – 6623002) 2023 Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Genomics of Brain Disorders Wellcome Trust Conference, Cambridge, UK, 17 - 23 May 2023, and multiple laboratory visits. Dr Alexander DIxon ($2,300 – 6623005) 2023 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Research Visit to Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine (IEKM), Freiburg, Germany, 17-30 April 2023. Dr Victor Dieriks ($4,000 – 6623007) 2023 Dept. of Anatomy & Medical Imaging, and Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation and the Neurodegeneration: New Biology Guiding the Next Generation of Therapeutic Development Conference Whistler, Canada, 15 - 19 May 2023. A/Prof Qi Chen ($1,544 – 6623019) 2023 Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland Attend and present at the annual meeting of the International Society of Extracellular vesicles, Seattle, USA, 18 - 21 May 2023. Dr Yan Chen ($3,172 – 6623018) 2023 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAPHE) Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 26 - 19 June 2023. Dr Carol Bussey ($4,000 – 6623014) 2023 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and Presentation at the American Physiology Summit 2023, Long Beach California, USA, 20-23 April 2023. Dr Ghader Bashiri ($4,000 – 6623021) 2023 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland Attendance and role of co-Chair at the Gordon Research meetings on "Enzymes, Coenzymes and Metabolic Pathways", Waterville Valley, USA, 15 - 21 July 2023. Dr Waruni Dissanayake ($2,937 – 6622009) 2022 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Asia Pacific Diabetes and Obesity meeting, Singapore, 20 - 23 November 2022. Dr Kevin Lee ($2,012 – 6622008) 2022 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation to the Society for Neuroscience conference, San Diego, USA, 12 - 16 November 2022. Dr Simerdeep Dhillion ($3,596 – 6622007) 2022 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and presentation at the Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society annual conference, Montesilvano, Italy, 20-23 September 2022. Dr David Crossman ($840 – 6622006) 2022 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Attendance and Presentation at the New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress in Queenstown, New Zealand, 28 Aug - 4 Sept 2022. A/Prof Monica Acosta ($1,862 – 6622005) 2022 School of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Auckland Strengthening international networks in eye research between NZ and South America, Chile and Uruguay, 2 Oct - 1 Nov 2022. Dr Melissa Cadelis ($2,287 – 6622004) 2022 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Meetings with two international collaborators, Paris and Marseille, France, 23 Sept - 16 Oct 2022. Dr Qian (Claire) Wang ($2,052 - 6622003) 2022 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland To attend Queenstown Research Week 2022, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 August - 2 September 2022. A/Prof Eileen Lueders ($3,000 - 6622002) 2022 Dept. of Pyschology, The University of Auckland To attend the Annual International Conference of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), Glasgow, United Kingdom, 19 - 23 June 2022. Dr Priyanka Alok Agarwal ($4,035 - 6622001) 2022 Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland To attend the Controlled Release Society 2022 Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 11 - 15 July 2022. Dr Yuliana Yosaatmadja ($1,666 – 6621005) 2021 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland To attend the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB), Christchurch, New Zealand, 22 - 25 November 2021. Dr Ted Yeung ($1,008 – 6621004) 2021 Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland To attend MEDSCI NZ, Queenstown, New Zealand, 31 August 2021 - 5 September 2021. Dr Sheryl Tan ($1,272 – 6621002) 2021 Dept. of Anatomy & Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland To attend AWCBR, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 August 2021 - 5 September 2021. Dr Augusto Simoes-Barbosa ($1,743 – 6621009) 2021 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland To attend the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists, Christchurch, New Zealand, 21 - 25 November 2021. Dr Christopher Hedges ($865 – 6621006) 2021 Dept. of Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Auckland To attend Queenstown Molecular Biology conference, and associated Metabolic and Heart Research satellite meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 August 2021 - 6 September 2021. Dr Rosemary Frey ($803 – 6621010) 2021 School of Nursing, The University of Auckland To participate in the virtual Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2021, online, 7 - 9 September 2021. Dr Jui-Lin Fan ($1,115 – 6621003) 2021 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland To attend MEDSCI NZ, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 August 2021 - 3 September 2021. Dr Zohreh Doborjeh ($897 – 6621008) 2021 Section of Audiology, The University of Auckland To attend AWCBR, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 August 2021. Mrs Robin Cronin ($711 – 6621001) 2021 Middlemore Hospital, Counties Manukau District Health Board To attend the 32nd International Confederation of Midwives Virtual Triennial Congress. 30 May – 3 June 2021. Dr Emma Buckels ($1,953 – 6621007) 2021 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland To attend MEDSCI NZ and the Advances in Microscopy satellite meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand, 29 August 2021 - 4 September 2021. A/Prof Darren Svirskis ($ 3,000 – 6620001) 2020 School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland To attend the 11th World Biomaterial Congress in Glasgow, Scotland and visit to University of Freiburg, Germany, 17 - 28 May 2020 (grant declined due to Covid).. Dr Anna Serlachius ($ 3,000 – 6620013) 2020 Dept. of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland To attend the European Health Psychology Society annual meeting, Bratislava, Slovakia, 24 - 31 August 2020 (plans to attend a rescheduled or alternative conference in 2021). Dr Ana Luiza Sayegh ($ 1,042 – 6620012) 2020 Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland To participate in the virtual 2021 Experimental Biology conference, 27 - 30 April 2021 (alternative conference due to Covid), and to attend Queenstown Research Week, 30 August - 2 September 2021 (alternative conference due to Covid). Dr Ravi Reddy ($ 1,042 – 6620012) 2020 Health Sciences, Massey University To attend The 13th ICBEN Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem, Stockholm, Sweden, 13 - 19 June 2020 (plans to attend a rescheduled or alternative conference in 2021). Dr Rebecca Pullon ($ 2,069 – 6620008) 2020 Dept. of Anaesthesiology, The University of Auckland To attend the Mechanisms of Anaesthesia Conference (MAC2020), Xi'an, China, 21 - 28 March 2020) (plans to attend a rescheduled or alternative conference in 2021). Dr Catherine Morgan ($ 3,000 – 6620006) 2020 School of Psychology, The University of Auckland To attend the International Society for Magnetic Resonance In Medicine (ISMRM) 2020 Conference, Sydney, Australia, 17 - 24 April 2020 (plans to attend a rescheduled or alternative conference in 2021). Dr Euphemia Leung ($ 3,000 – 6620014) 2020 Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland To attend the Mammary Gland Biology Gordon Research Conference, Lucca, Italy, 7 - 12 June 2020 (grant declined due to Covid). A/Prof Rozanne Kruger ($ 3,000 – 6620005) 2020 School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University To participate in the virtual International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods (eICDAM 2021), 8 - 12 February 2021 (conference delayed from 2020 and held in virtual format). Dr Jiney Jose ($ 3,000 – 6620016) 2020 Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland To attend the EFMC-ISMC 2020 XXVI EFMC International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry, Basel, Switzerland, 6 - 10 September 2020 (grant declined due to Covid). Dr Muhammad Hanif ($ 3,000 – 6620011) 2020 School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland To attend the Metals in Medicine - Gordon Research Conference, Andover, USA, 26 June - 1 July 2022 (conference rescheduled from 2020). Dr William Good ($ 1,872 – 6620004) 2020 Respiratory Department, Middlemore Clinical Trials (MMCT), Counties Manukau District Health Board To attend the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting 2020, Melbourne, Australia, 26 March - 2 April 2020 (plans to attend a rescheduled or alternative conference in 2021). Dr Waruni Dissanayake ($3,000 – 6620010) 2020 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland To participate in Virtual EASD 2021, 27 September – 1 October 2021 (conference held in virtual format), and to attend Queenstown Research Week, 30 August - 2 September 2021 (alternative conference due to Covid). Dr Rhea Desai ($3,000 – 6620009) 2020 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland To attend the Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association, Frankfurt, Germany 11 - 14 June 2020 (conference held in virtual format). Dr Melissa Cadelis ($3,000 – 6620002) 2020 Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland To attend the XI European Conference on Marine Natural Products in Galway, Ireland, 28 June - 2nd July 2021 (alternative conference due to Covid) Dr Mark Bekhit ($ 3,000 – 6620015) 2020 Radiology, Auckland District Health Board To attend the International ESC Preventive Cardiology 2020 Conference, Malaga, Spain, 1 - 10 April 2020 (plans to attend a rescheduled or alternative conference in 2021).

Are you curious about how a stroke affects the brain? Learn about groundbreaking work in stroke rehabilitation, robotics and recovery. Watch now What are you curious about? More research stories Are you curious about hearing loss research? How is AMRF supporting groundbreaking medical device research to help hydrocephalus sufferers? Families rally behind AMRF, giving hope to others after losing loved ones to brain cancers Breakthrough Funding: Pioneering Endometrial Cancer Research Receives Major Grant Who decides what research should be funded? Calling all musical theatre enthusiasts! One night only... Read More What We Do Join us to make research happen Donate Now You can help change lives Stories Read about the people you support 41 2023 Travel Awards 7 2023 Fellowships and Scholarships 15 2023 Research Projects 73 Total Awarded Grants 2023 Upcoming Funding See the Latest Funding Round Info Learn More

Project Grants Apply now 2022 17 awards $2,255,482 2023 15 awards $2,080,838 2021 18 awards $2,407,864 2020 22 awards $2,840, 065 2019 19 awards $2,48 9,420 In March 2022 an additional $625,000 was awarded to 55 researchers from the Covid-19 Relief Fund in order that their research could continue despite the significant delays and disruptions caused by Covid-19 lockdowns. P. SOMERAE DETECTION IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER IN AOTEAROA ($174,834– 2 years) 8123010 2023 Dr Karen Bartholomew, Dr Marina Walther-Antonio, Dr Georgina McPherson, Dr Silipa Naiqiso, Dr Lois Eva, Dr Michelle Wilson, Dr Sarah Corbett, Dr Suneela Mehta, Dr Collette Bromhead, Dr Joanne Moses, Dr Sathana Ponnampalam, Dr Jye Lu, Ms Puawai Enoka, Ms Pauline Fakalata, Dr Claire Henry, Dr Cherie Blenkiron, Dr Bryony Simcock, Mrs Roimata Tipene Planning Funding and Outcomes, Te Whatu Ora Waitematā, Endometrial Cancer (EC; cancer of the uterus or womb) is a significant health and equity issue in Aotearoa. Pacific women have one of the highest incidence rates in the world, and it is rising extremely rapidly, with EC now being the biggest contributor to the life expectancy gap for Pacific women. There are also inequities for Māori women in both EC incidence and mortality. Potential drivers of EC include obesity, diabetes and menopausal status. More recently, studies have indicated links between vaginal and endometrial microbial communities (microbiome) and EC. In the US an anaerobic bacteria (bacteria which grows without oxygen), Porphyromonas somerae has been found to be associated with EC. The US lead author is collaborating with us to examine whether this bacteria can be detected, alongside changes in pH, on vaginal swabs and endometrial samples in a large and diverse population in Aotearoa; Māori, Pacific and non-Māori non-Pacific women. We will also examine the broader microbiome to see if there are differences for Aotearoa or between groups. Confirming a microbiome biomarker for EC raises the possibility of a minimally invasive screening test (vaginal self-test) in the future, with the ultimate aim of addressing EC inequities. EXENATIDE NEUROPROTECTION ($178, 913 – 2 years) 1123012 2023 Dr Simerdeep Dhillon, Prof Alistair Gunn, Prof Laura Bennet, Dr Joanne Davidson Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Each year around 8% of all Kiwi babies are born preterm. These vulnerable infants are at significant risk of life-long disabilities such as learning problems, reduced IQ, and behavioural difficulties, due to brain injury and impaired development. Exposure of the baby to oxygen deprivation in the womb or during birth is a major cause of brain injury. Currently, there are no brain protection treatments available for these infants. Preterm babies only show subtle clinical signs and brain injury can take days to diagnose. To realistically reduce brain damage in preterm infants, we need treatments that can be given even after a very long delay after birth. This preclinical study will examine if treatment with a clinically available drug (Exenatide) starting with a delay of multiple days after a period of oxygen deprivation can treat ongoing inflammation and promote the repair of the preterm brain. The findings from this study will provide crucial evidence for future clinical studies with the potential to reduce disabilities and improve outcomes of preterm infants. THE STABILITY OF ‘AS REQUIRED’ SYRINGES COMPOUNDED IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN AOTEAROA, NEW ZEALAND ($63,029 – 1 year) 1123008 2023 Dr Derryn Gargiulo, Dr Sara Hanning, A/Prof Jeff Harrison, Dr Sachin Thakur School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Everyone with a life-limiting condition, their family and whānau, should have access to the best possible palliative care. For clients under palliative care, if medicines can no longer be taken orally, they are injected via a syringe in a portable pump over 24 hours. For every medicine contained within the 24-hour syringe, a corresponding ‘as required’ syringe is prepared for breakthrough pain or worsening symptoms. These syringes may be needed in a hurry at any time, and a ready supply of syringes has the potential to reduce admissions to hospital for symptom management. The syringes are often compounded using aseptic techniques in community pharmacies, but due to a lack of sterility and stability data, are assigned a conservative three-day expiry. This means the family must return to the pharmacy every three days to collect a new supply of medication, and any unused syringes are disposed of as pharmaceutical waste. This study will determine the stability of the most commonly used medicines in these ‘as required’ syringes, with a view to extend the expiry date where possible. A parallel study will determine the sterility of these syringes. In addition to reducing waste, extending the expiry date of these medicines will reduce the burden of families, giving them more time to spend with their loved ones. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Primary Healthcare Research Fund MI-LABOUR TRIAL ($112,492 – 2 years) 1123013 2023 Dr Meghan Hill, Dr Moerangi Tamati, Dr Michelle Wise, Mrs Robin Cronin, Dr Charlotte Oyston, Dr Lynn Sadler Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland We are studying the efficacy and safety of Mifepristone to increase the rate of spontaneous labour in people who have undergone a prior caesarean birth. People who plan a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) ideally await spontaneous labour. Induction of labour increases the risk of repeat caesarean birth and the chance of complications. We have limited options to offer people wishing for VBAC. Prostaglandins, the most commonly used cervical preparation agents, are contraindicated in women with a prior caesarean. Oxytocin is an alternative. However, it requires an intravenous infusion, causes contractions and continuous cardiotocograph (CTG) monitoring is required when patients are receiving this medication. Oxytocin use is associated with a higher rate of unplanned repeat caesarean birth and labour complications including uterine rupture. Mifepristone blocks progesterone receptors causing cervical softening without significant uterine contractions. This mimics the process people undergo prior to labour. We will assess the use of Mifepristone to increase the rate of spontaneous labour in people with a prior caesarean birth by performing a double blinded randomised controlled trial. Participants are allocated to receive either a single dose of mifepristone or a placebo. The trial is patient-centred, with study visits occurring at the site of their choice, including their home. This approach is aimed at reducing barriers to access healthcare and trial participation. LIGNOCAINE IMPLANT FOR PAIN RELIEF IN COLON SURGERY ($25,000 – 6 months) 1123014 2023 Dr Claudia Paterson, Prof Andrew Hill, A/Prof Darren Svirskis, Dr Parry Singh Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland Current approaches to managing postoperative pain after abdominal surgery rely on opioids. Opioids provide strong pain relief but have negative side effects. Local anaesthetic agents, such as lignocaine, work by "numbing" the nerves, and are being increasingly used worldwide instead of opioids. We have been studying the benefits of administering local anaesthetic into the abdominal cavity after surgery in patients for over ten years. We have developed an implantable device which is placed into the abdominal cavity at the time of surgery and immediately provides continuous delivery of lignocaine. This device has been designed with the specific goal of improving pain control following abdominal surgery. The device can be easily removed at any time. The device has been developed with DEC Pharmaceuticals, a Hamilton-based MedTech company. We have demonstrated the safety of this device in a sheep model. We are planning to conduct a Phase 1 study of our implant with ten participants who are undergoing colon surgery. The aim of this Phase 1 study is to demonstrate that this device is safe in humans. After this, we aim to demonstrate that the device is effective in reducing pain, by conducting further studies. MENINGEAL LYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE ($168,926 – 2 years) 1123011 2023 Dr Justin Rustenhoven, Prof Maurice Curtis, A/Prof Deborah Young, Prof Mike Dragunow, Mr Sam McCullough, Dr Taylor Stevenson Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting cognition and movement. It occurs when neurons in the brain that control these functions die or become damaged. The cause of neuronal loss is poorly understood, but the build-up of a pathological protein called α-synuclein is the leading hypothesis. α-synuclein can be cleared from the brain through various mechanisms, including the recently identified meningeal lymphatic system. This system sits in the borders surrounding the brain and functions as a drainage pipe to remove waste matter arising from the brain. In Parkinson’s disease, this system becomes dysfunctional, or “clogged”, which contributes to the build-up of harmful proteins. The cause(s) of lymphatic dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease are unknown. We will investigate the mechanisms underlying the “clogging” of these brain drains by studying the effects of α-synuclein—the major pathological protein in Parkinson's disease—on the lymphatic system using mouse models, human cell cultures, and brain border tissues donated by individuals with Parkinson's disease. Understanding how the lymphatic system is affected in Parkinson's disease could lead to new treatments targeting this system. Similar to clearing a blocked drain, restoration of lymphatic function could have significant benefits in promoting waste removal and associated cognitive benefits for Parkinson’s disease. THE PARACETAMOL AND IBUPROFEN IN KIDS INTERVENTION (PIKI) STUDY ($179,847 – 2 years) 1123009 2023 Dr Eunicia Tan, Dr Trevor Kuang, Dr Laura Joyce, Dr Alexandra Wallace, Dr Joanne Cole, Dr Alastair MacLean, Dr Kim Yates, A/Prof John Thompson, Dr Martin Than, Dr Libby Haskell, A/Prof Christopher McKinlay, Prof Stuart Dalziel Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland Fever is the most common reason children < 2 years of age are taken to emergency departments. International guidelines recommend that fever-reducing medications should only be used for relief of discomfort, rather than solely for lowering temperature. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the two most widely prescribed and used over-the- counter medications for fever and pain in children, but the extent to which these medications improve discomfort in febrile children is unknown. It is unthinkable that there remains a knowledge gap regarding the appropriate use of paracetamol and ibuprofen for treatment of fever-related discomfort, given their universal use for fever and pain in young children. The Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in Kids Intervention (PIKI) Study ('Piki' is Te Reo Māori for 'to climb', 'to support'), will compare the efficacy and safety of paracetamol vs. ibuprofen for relief of discomfort in febrile children < 2 years of age in the emergency department. MASKED CAMPTOTHECINS FOR ADCS ($175,847 – 2 years) 1123014 2023 Dr Moana Tercel, Dr Frederik Pruijn Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a new and rapidly growing type of cancer treatment. ADCs use the selectivity of an antibody to deliver a drug directly to cancer cells, with the goal of avoiding the normal tissue toxicity which is often caused by chemotherapy. In this project we will prepare new versions of a type of drug that has been the focus of some recent ADCs developed for treating breast cancer. These new versions of the drugs have the right chemical properties to address current limitations and so make even better and more effective ADCs. UNLOCKING PRIMARY CARE DATA ON MULTIMORBIDITY TO IMPROVE THE PREDICTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ($172,757 – 2 years) 1123007 2023 A/Prof Susan Wells, Ms Yeunhyang Catherine Choi, Dr Katrina Poppe School of Population Health, The University of Auckland Multimorbidity (MM), having two or more long term conditions, affects one in four New Zealanders. The prevalence is highest for Māori, Pacific and older people, contributing to reduced quality-of-life and life expectancy. MM co-occurs in those at high CVD risk, yet NZ CVD risk management guidelines provide negligible advice about MM to guide GP-patient decision making. An existing research collaboration has curated a large deidentified dataset of adult patients enrolled in ProCare PHO, linked with national hospitalisation, pharmaceutical dispensing and regional laboratory data, and are investigating how well current NZ risk algorithms perform in the presence of MM. However, several conditions (gout, bundle branch block, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, chronic migraine, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and gestational diabetes), which are strongly associated with increased CVD risk, are not captured by the NZ MM index, M3. We plan to replicate our M3-associated long term condition methodology to describe the prevalence of these conditions in GP records, investigate their impact on 5-year CVD hospitalisations and deaths, whether these conditions influence GP management of CVD risk and whether there are equity gaps by age, gender, ethnicity and deprivation. PACE-NODES ($62,342 – 2 years) 2123006 2023 Dr Jerusha Padayachee, Dr Guiseppe Sasso Radiation Oncology, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect men in Aotearoa New Zealand, with an estimated 4,000 new cases a year. Men with high risk localised prostate cancer, are at greater risk of the cancer returning after their initial treatment, and we are continuing to explore ways to improve their outcomes. One area of interest is the use of radiotherapy targeting both the prostate and pelvic nodes at the initial treatment. Lymph node spread is common in men with high-risk prostate cancer, but it is often difficult to detect on scans. Recent studies have shown that by treating both the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes, we can reduce the risk of the cancer returning. In addition, with improvements in radiotherapy technology, we can now deliver this treatment safely. Prostate radiotherapy is typically delivered over 4 weeks (20 treatments). More recently, there has been shift to deliver radiotherapy over 5 treatments using an approach of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Here, by applying extreme precision, a highly ablative dose per treatment is delivered to the prostate, and early data shows this approach to be safe. It is unclear whether SBRT can delivered safely and more effectively when treating both the prostate and pelvic nodes, and this PACE-NODES randomised study will provide further insight. JET INJECTION: SKIN TENSION AND DEFORMATION ($180,000 – 2 years) 1123005 2023 Dr James McKeage, Prof Andrew Taberner, Dr Alexander Dixon, Prof Poul Nielsen Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Liquid drugs, such as vaccines or insulin, can be delivered through the skin without a needle using ‘needle-free jet injection’. In this approach, the drug itself is formed into a hair-thin, high-speed jet that can break through the skin and into the underlying tissue. Removing the needle avoids the burden of infectious sharps waste and needle-phobia - which affects over 50% of children. Despite the benefits, needle-free jet injection has yet to be broadly successful in replacing needles. A significant barrier to uptake is that jet injection studies continue to report failed injections, inconsistent delivery volumes, and/or variable pain or comfort scores from patients. How the injector is pressed against the skin determines how successful and comfortable the injection will be, however, we still do not understand the best way to stretch or contact the skin before an injection. By building a new system to control skin tension and the jet-induced movement of the skin we will investigate how these affect jet penetration and fluid delivery. This will inform the design of injectors, or could lead to new techniques, that improve the ease and consistency of jet injection - allowing us to realise the broad benefits of avoiding needles. STEROIDS IN PRESCHOOL ASTHMA REDUCTION (STAR) STUDY ($52, 930 – 2 years) 2123004 2023 Professor Stuart Dalziel, Dr Alexandra Wallace, A/Prof John Thompson, Adj. Prof Simon Craig, Professor Franz Babl, Prof Meredith Borland, Dr Libby Haskell, Dr David McNamara, Dr Eunicia Tan, Dr Christine Brabyn, Dr Te Aro Moxon Children's Emergency Department, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Asthma is the most common illness of childhood, and the leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits. Māori and Pacific children are more frequently affected, and three times more likely to require hospitalisation. Preschool wheeze is treated similarly to asthma in older children, including 3-days of oral steroid medication for moderate or severe episodes. However, recent evidence suggests that wheeze in preschoolers is a short-lived illness, meaning these children may require only 1-day of oral steroid. Thus, in the STeroids in preschool Asthma Reduction (STAR) Study, we will compare respiratory outcomes in wheezy preschoolers treated with 1- versus 3-days of oral steroid. If this study shows that outcomes are the same for children who receive the shorter course, their treatment will be simplified, and their risk of steroid-related side-effects greatly reduced. This will be especially relevant for preschoolers who suffer recurrent wheezy episodes and receive several courses of steroid each year. Furthermore, this study has potential to improve equity of care for wheezy preschoolers, as if a single dose of oral steroid is as effective as a 3-day course, there will be no need for further doses following discharge. NATURE'S ONLY ORGAN TRANSPLANT ($179,187 – 2 years) 1123003 2023 Professor Larry Chamley, A/Prof Qi Chen, Dr Charlotte Oyston, Prof Katie Groom Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland Our immune system must be able to distinguish between components of our own bodies (self) which it must ignore and bacteria or viruses (non-self) which it is designed to destroy. Organ transplants are rejected because the recipient’s immune system recognises the transplant as non-self and attacks it. Because it is derived half from dad, the placenta/fetus are nature’s only transplant. We don’t understand how nature tricks the maternal immune system into allowing the fetal transplant to survive during pregnancy but this process goes wrong in a life-threatening disease called preeclampsia, which is found only in pregnant women. We believe that tiny packages called extracellular vesicles, which are pushed out of the placenta into mum’s blood are the key to how the fetus controls its mother’s immune system. We are investigating which immune cells interact with placental extracellular vesicles and how that interaction alters the maternal immune system in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. We expect pregnancies to be safe but approximately 5% of pregnant women develop preeclampsia which has both immediate and long-term consequences for mother and babe. This research will give us a better understanding of how the immune system is controlled in pregnancy and what goes wrong in preeclampsia. These are the first steps towards developing new treatments for preeclampsia. PERSONALISED MEDICINE IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS ($179,997– 2 years) 1123002 2023 Dr Kathryn Burns, A/Prof Nuala Helsby, Dr Tze Goh, Prof Peter Gow, Dr Janak de Zoysa Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressant drug which targets an enzyme in white blood cells, inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). It can be used to treat patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who develop potentially life-threatening kidney damage (lupus nephritis). This study aims to understand how differences in IMPDH between SLE patients affect how well MMF suppresses its activity, and how this changes over time. We will also investigate the way MMF enters each person’s immune cells, as well as inherited differences between patients that might affect outcomes both for MMF and for an alternative drug used to treat lupus nephritis (cyclophosphamide). Understanding these factors could help doctors to predict which patients are likely to benefit from MMF therapy, and which ones are more likely to benefit from cyclophosphamide instead. PARENTAL DIET AND THE OFFSPRING ($179,182 – 2 years) 1123001 2023 Dr Benjamin Albert, Prof Wayne Cutfield, Dr José Derraik, Dr Anna Ponnampalam, Dr David Musson, Prof Mark Vickers Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Children who are born to mothers with overweight or obesity are more likely to develop problems with their weight, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease as they grow up. This is because they are born with alterations to how their body's metabolism works. As over half of the children born in New Zealand, will have a mother with greater weight, this is important. Unfortunately, we don't have any effective treatments to reduce the risk for these children once they are born. We also don't know if Dad's health is as important as Mum's. This study will use a high-fat high-sugar, Western junk food diet, in rats, to find out the relative importance of the mother and the father's diet and body fatness, and also find out whether a fish oil treatment given to the offspring during childhood can prevent weight and metabolic problems from developing as they grow up. This could lead to better health advice for both men and women who wish to become parents, and to a rescue treatment, to protect children born at risk of weight problems. BALANCED-2 STUDY ($149,963 – 2 years) 2122016 2022 Dr Carolyn Deng, Dr Deidre Jansson, Dr Michal Kluger, Dr Nick Lightfoot, Dr Katherine Bloomfield, Prof John Windsor, Ms Davina Mcallister, Prof Timothy Short, Dr Doug Campbell Dept. of Anaesthesia, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland Delirium is the most common serious postoperative complication, occurring in an estimated one in four older adults undergoing major surgery. Delirium causes significant distress to patients, whānau and hospital staff, and is associated with prolonged hospital stays, physical decline and progression to dementia-like illnesses. A population-based study in NZ shows that Māori patients are more likely to experience delirium at a much younger age after surgery. This study compares 'light' to 'deep' anaesthesia during surgery using widely available brain monitors, to see if 'light' general anaesthesia could reduce rates of postoperative delirium. Previous literature suggests that targeting 'light' anaesthesia may reduce delirium rates by up to 25%. Over 10% of adults aged 70 years and over undergo surgery each year and this simple, cheap, and readily available treatment could reduce disability, preserve brain health and well-being of many older adults in NZ and worldwide. This could also save millions of healthcare dollars. TREGS AND SCFAS ($174,675 – 2 years) 1122015 2022 Dr Gergely Toldi, Dr Chris Pook, Prof Frank Bloomfield Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specific subset of immune cells that play a critical role in balancing the immune response. We do not understand the dynamics of how these cells evolve in early life. Through experiments on blood and stool samples of term and preterm babies, we explore how short chain fatty acids, metabolic products produced by harmless bacteria in the gut, influence the development of Tregs. Our investigations will characterise how Tregs interact with other immune cells and how their function can be positively influenced. The results will help fight immunological complications affecting newborn babies as well as allergies and autoimmune disorders in later life. DOPAMINE DEFICIT AND VISION TESTING ($179,977– 2 years) 1222014 2022 A/Prof Monica Acosta, Dr Peter Freestone, Dr John Phillips, Dr Andrew Collins Dept. of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Auckland Our ability to move, to respond to reward and to see, are physiological and behavioural processes that involve the action of the signalling chemical dopamine in the brain. Dysfunction in dopamine and its pathways play a major role in neurological disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Around 5% of the New Zealand population has ADHD but only 1-2% are diagnosed; once correctly diagnosed, there are various ways to help a child with ADHD. We propose that in affected ADHD people the eye holds biological clues (biomarkers) that could guide a more precise objective diagnosis of the disease in children. We will test the hypothesis in an animal model where dopamine levels are high, using a combination of molecular and electrochemical techniques, biometric and retinal imaging assessment of the eye. Collectively, these findings will identify reliable biomarkers of dopamine dysfunction and determine how these pathways are compromised with disease. This information will provide a more effective assessment of ADHD, measurable non-invasively using biomarkers obtained during an eye test in children. OPTIMISING MENINGIOMA PROGNOSTICATION ($80,707 – 2 years) 2122013 2022 Dr Clinton Turner, Mr Jason Correia, Prof Mike Dragunow Anatomical Pathology, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland While regarded as “benign”, meningioma may have devastating consequences such as blindness, permanent weakness, and even death. A major problem with meningioma management is the difficulty in predicting which tumours may recur. Identifying improved ways of predicting which meningiomas are most likely to recur will allow closer follow-up and/or early additional therapy which may improve outcome. Presently, we do not know what the best means of assessing recurrence risk is. Advanced molecular testing and the “molecular-morphologic meningioma classification” has been reported to perform well. But it is expensive and has never been compared to more sophisticated and essentially “free” methods of stratifying risk such as our newly developed “Auckland meningioma score” which uses tumour grade, extent of resection, site, size, and ethnicity to assign recurrence risk. By comparing three risk stratification methods: the current post-operative meningioma risk stratification pathway, “Auckland meningioma score”, and the molecular-morphologic meningioma classification we aim to determine the best method of predicting meningioma recurrence risk. In doing so this study will provide a strong evidence base to determine the optimal risk stratification tool for patients undergoing meningioma resection in Auckland, allow best use of healthcare resources, and improve the quality of care following meningioma surgery. ARYLFORMAMIDASE IN CANCER ($60,000 – 2 years) 1122012 2022 Dr Petr Tomek, Dr Saem Park Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Immunotherapy is the future of cancer care. By stimulating the patient’s immune cells to fight cancer cells, immunotherapy can cure cancer. Yet, sadly, this does not happen in most patients because the cancer sabotages their immunity. Two key saboteurs hired by cancers are enzymes called IDO1 and TDO. They produce a chemical called kynurenine that paralyses cancer-killing immune cells. To sensitise patients to curative immunotherapies, kynurenine needs to be stopped. Unfortunately, developing safe and effective drugs that will block IDO1 and TDO at the same time is proving harder than first anticipated. To get around these difficulties, we aim to block kynurenine production in a simpler and likely more effective way. We propose to inactivate an enigmatic enzyme called arylformamidase required by both IDO1 and TDO to make kynurenine. We have just generated promising results in ovarian cancer cells suggesting that arylformamidase is indeed the only gene producing kynurenine. In this research, we will confirm this finding in diverse cancer cell types and find out if arylformamidase is present in human tumours. This research has potential to establish arylformamidase as a target for drugs that can sensitise more cancer patients to life-saving immunotherapies. COCHLEAR VASCULATURE ($179,250 – 2 years) 1122011 2022 Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr, Dr Vickie Shim, Dr Joanne Davidson, Dr Mark Oliver, Prof Peter Thorne Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland There is no intervention to prevent or delay the onset of hearing loss, a condition that affects over 800,000 people in NZ. Our hearing is dependent on the auditory neurons located deep inside the organ of hearing, the cochlea. The health of auditory neurons is critically dependent on the delivery of nutrients and oxygen by blood vessels. However, the fine network of small blood vessels supporting these neurons has not been well researched. To fill this gap of knowledge, our collaborative research team will use a novel combination of 3D imaging techniques to enable the investigation of these small structures deep inside the cochlea. This research will inform us how tiny blood vessels surround auditory neurons and how they develop and change with age. This fundamental information will help us understand how auditory neurons may be affected by changes in blood flow following damage or surgical interventions. In the long term, this will help us develop new diagnostics and therapies to optimise the health of neurons in the cochlea, to prevent deterioration of hearing in people starting to experience hearing loss and to preserve nerve function in patients with cochlear implants. EXENDIN-4 AFTER HYPOTHERMIA ($49,500 – 2 years) 1122010 2022 A/Prof Joanne Davidson, Dr Kelly Zhou Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland In New Zealand, 70 babies a year develop brain injury due to the loss of oxygen or blood supply around the time of birth. This can lead to death or lifelong disability. The only treatment available for these babies is brain cooling, but nearly half of the babies that are treated will still develop brain injury. Treatments that can be used alongside brain cooling are urgently needed to improve the outcome for these babies. We have shown that there is unresolved inflammation in the brain, even after treatment with hypothermia. This inflammation likely contributes to brain injury and disability. Therefore, we propose that targeting this inflammation with Exendin-4 (a drug that has anti-inflammatory effects), after treatment with brain cooling will further reduce brain injury. This research will help provide crucial information as to how to improve care of these vulnerable babies, including how best to reduce brain damage and disability and improve the quality of life for these babies and their families. Co-funded with Neurological Foundation of New Zealand. ANTIBIOTIC HYBRIDS ($10,000 – 18 months) 1122009 2022 Prof Brent Copp, Dr Melissa Cadelis School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a global health threat to humanity. Since their introduction in the 1940s, antibiotics have been the cornerstone of modern medicine saving lives by being able to cure infectious diseases and to prevent infections in those that are immune compromised. With time has come an increase in the incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, driven by inappropriate prescribing and the ability of bacteria to adapt to, and overcome, the action of antibiotics. Of particular concern, is the emergence of Gram-negative bacterial resistance in the clinic – with no new Gram-negative antibiotic having been discovered for decades, infections caused by these organisms can become essentially untreatable. A strategy for overcoming Gram-negative bacterial resistance is to identify adjuvant compounds that can 'rehabilitate' old antibiotics, restoring their effectiveness to aid in the fight against drug-resistant bacterial infections. This proof-of-principle study exploits our recently discovered family of non-toxic, bacterial membrane disrupting adjuvants to now prepare hybrids that combine antibiotic and adjuvant into a single molecule. We anticipate that the hybrid will exhibit growth inhibition activity towards otherwise resistant Gram-negative bacteria, cementing this as a strategy to expand the utility of disused legacy antibiotics and to provide alternative methods for combating antimicrobial resistance. PREVENTION OF WHEEZE-ASSOCIATED HOSPITALISATION IN PRESCHOOLERS ($177,984 – 2 years) 1122008 2022 Prof Cameron Grant, Prof Katherine Lee, Dr Rachel Schembri, A/Prof Lisa Gold, Prof Peter Sly, Dr Sarah McNab, Prof Peter Vuillermin, Ms Amy Dang, Dr Anita Lala, Dr Angus Goodson, Dr Gloria Dainty, Dr Natalie Martin, Dr Alexandra Wallace, Dr Rebecca Alekzander, Dr Arun Gangakhedkar, Mrs Marisa van Arragon, Dr Simone Wakkins, Dr Owen Sinclair Dept. of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland Preschool wheeze is a common cause of hospital admission of preschool-aged children worldwide and the most common cause in Australia and New Zealand. Current prevention strategies are ineffective and potentially harmful. Novel approaches are needed. OM-85 is an orally administered bacterial lysate that stimulates immune responses against viral infections and reduces the excessive inflammation of the respiratory mucosa associated with wheezing episodes. In placebo-controlled trials, OM-85 reduces recurrent respiratory infections in children and is well tolerated. Larger studies are required to evaluate whether OM-85 prevents wheeze-related hospitalisations. Children 1-5 years old with a history of wheeze and admitted to participating Australasian hospitals (seven in New Zealand) with a wheezy illness will be eligible. 2268 children will be enrolled and randomly assigned 1:1 to OM-85 or placebo. This trial will determine the efficacy of OM-85 for preventing hospitalisations in preschool-aged children with recurrent wheeze and assess the effect of OM-85 on subsequent recurrent wheeze events. End-user engagement from inception and detailed cost-effectiveness analysis will facilitate rapid translation of the findings into policy and improved health outcomes in Australasia and internationally. BUGS AS DRUGS ($179,984 – 2 years) 1122007 2022 Dr Alexandra Mowday, A/Prof Jan Theys, A/Prof Adam Patterson Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps direct our immune system to fight cancer. Unfortunately, only a small number of patients who receive immunotherapy will benefit. Patients that do respond to immunotherapy typically have large numbers of immune cells present within their tumour. This suggests that if we can recruit additional immune cells to the tumour, we can improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy for more people. Many immunotherapies are also associated with autoimmune-related side effects that can vary in severity. The non-pathogenic anaerobic bacterium Clostridium sporogenes offers a unique solution for improving the tolerability and effectiveness of immunotherapy in more patients. Upon injection as inert spores, Clostridium sporogenes can germinate into active bacteria in particular regions of the tumour (necrosis), resulting in a tumour-specific bacterial infection. This research will investigate whether a strain of Clostridium sporogenes engineered to express an immunotherapy agent can 1) Provide specific and continuous delivery of immunotherapy from inside the tumour, minimising the potential side effects from intravenous delivery; 2) Recruit more immune cells to tumour tissue to make cancer immunotherapy more effective. If successful, this approach could produce meaningful results for a significant number of patients who do not respond to immunotherapy. DOPAMINE AND TINNITUS ($69,680 – 1 year) 7722005 2022 A/Prof Yiwen Zheng, Professor John Reynolds, Professor Paul Smith Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Otago Chronic tinnitus is a debilitating condition affecting approximately 10% of the population and for which there are limited treatment options. The perception of auditory signals can be modulated by a neural network called the auditory gating system, which filters repeated irrelevant sounds. While our most recent studies have provided direct evidence of a dysfunctional gating system and a link between the brain reward system in an animal model of tinnitus, it is not clear what molecular changes are driving this. As dopamine neurotransmission is involved in both auditory gating and the reward system, this project will investigate the involvement of dopamine in tinnitus. Specifically, we will induce tinnitus in rats using acoustic trauma and confirm the animal’s perception of tinnitus using a well-established behavioural paradigm. We will then measure dopamine release in brain areas involved in auditory perception, auditory gating and reward using an advance technique called fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, and compare dopamine release between control, tinnitus positive and tinnitus negative animals. The results will contribute to a better understanding of tinnitus and inform further studies into developing effective treatments for tinnitus. Funded by: Jean Cathie Fund for Tinnitus Research PROTECTING THE GUT FROM ISCHAEMIC INJURY ($175,353 – 2 years) 1122006 2022 Dr Sachin Thakur, Dr Anthony Hickey, Prof Anthony Phillips, ProfJohn Windsor School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Acute and critical illnesses such as sepsis, trauma, meningitis and acute pancreatitis, all show signs of widespread inflammation across the body. In severe cases, these lead to organ failure, which is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. Māori and Pasifika are more likely to develop acute and critical illness than others, with Māori that present to intensive care being on average ten years younger than non-Māori. Low oxygen levels in the gut and subsequent gut injury are known to be important contributors to poorer outcomes for these patients, yet there are no clinical strategies available to protect or treat the gut. Our project presents a genuine potential advance to address a treatment gap urgently needed in acute and critical patient care. Our approach will limit both the development and progression of low-oxygen gut injury caused and so is expected to see use as both a prevention and a treatment for acutely and critically ill patients. The work we perform will lay the foundation for future clinical trials to evaluate oxygen microbubbles in improving the clinical outcomes, including quality of life, from acute and critical illness. COMPASS FEASIBILITY STUDY ($179,980 – 2 years) 1122003 2022 Dr Anna Serlachius, Prof Nathan Consedine, Dr Sarah Hopkins, Dr Alana Cavadino, Ms Anna Boggiss, Ms Susan Reid, Mr Nicholas Cao, A/Prof Craig Jefferies, Dr Martin de Bock, Dept. of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland Delivering a self-compassion intervention via a chatbot (conversational agent) is a novel approach for improving psychological health in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Adolescents with type 1 diabetes are at higher risk for psychological disorders and life-threatening diabetic complications, factors that disproportionately affect Māori and Pacific youth. We plan to adapt a self-compassion chatbot (called COMPASS) for Māori and Pacific youth (Phase 1) and conduct a feasibility study (Phase 2) with 40 adolescents with type 1 diabetes aged 12-16 years in Auckland and Christchurch to test the usability and acceptability of COMPASS as well as test the methods and recruitment approach, in preparation for a subsequent multi-centred randomised controlled trial. We believe COMPASS could help to transform clinical diabetes care in Aotearoa. GONOCOCCUS VACCINES ($145,632 – 2 years) 1122004 2022 Prof Thomas Proft, Dr Catherine (Jia-Yun) Tsai, Dr Fiona Radcliff, Dr Joanna Hicks Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that, if remains untreated, can lead to complications such as infertility. There are an estimated 78-106 million new cases each year worldwide and New Zealand rates were reported as 100 per 100,000 population in 2017. Māori and Pacific People have significantly higher gonorrhoea rates compared to Europeans. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the development of effective treatments against this bacterium a global priority. We propose to generate a vaccine against gonorrhoea using PilVax, our recently developed peptide carrier. PilVax uses the rigid scaffold of a bacterial pilus structure to stabilise and multimerise introduced peptides and small proteins to trigger strong mucosal immune responses. We will test four selected gonococcal vaccine targets and analyse immune responses in vaccinated mice. Furthermore, we will investigate if vaccinated mice are protected against infection with the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhoea. An effective vaccine against this bacterium would not only prevent gonorrhoea, but also limit the spread of antimicrobial resistant strains. NOVEL TREATMENT FOR DIABETIC HEART DISEASE ($172,920 – 2 years) 1122001 2022 Dr Kimberley Mellor, Mr Marco Annandale, Prof Lea Delbridge Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland In New Zealand, more than 300,000 people are currently diagnosed with diabetes and the burden falls disproportionately on Māori and Pacific Island populations, with 2.8-fold higher prevalence and mortality rate approaching 6 times that of non indigenous populations. Diabetic patients have increased risk of heart failure and the prevalence of subclinical heart dysfunction in type 2 diabetes is estimated to be as high as 75%. We have recently discovered that fructose sugar is a key instigator of cardiac damage in the diabetic heart, and our proof-of-principle studies have demonstrated that intervention to slow down fructose metabolism in the heart results in complete restoration of cardiac function. This study aims to provide robust pre-clinical data to demonstrate the potential for a novel fructokinase inhibitor to treat diabetic heart disease. This project has the potential to drive the re-purposing of an existing drug, already safety tested in the clinic, to accelerate a new therapy for diabetic heart disease - a condition which has dire consequences and for which there is currently no treatment available. BIOMARKERS FOR FOETAL COMPROMISE ($160,051 – 2 years) 1122002 2022 Dr Christopher Lear, Prof Laura Bennet, Prof Alistair Gunn, Dr Simerdeep Dhillon Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Approximately 70 babies born each year in New Zealand will develop brain injury because of oxygen deprivation during birth, which may lead to death or severe lifelong disability. Midwives and obstetricians play a key role in assessing this risk and determining whether it is safe for labour to continue. The main method used to assess whether babies have sufficient oxygen is foetal heart rate monitoring. Unfortunately, foetal heart rate monitoring is very imprecise, making it difficult to conclusively determine whether babies are healthy or not. This can lead to tragic outcomes for both babies and families but also contributes to many mothers receiving unnecessary caesarean sections. We believe that there are clues in the subtle fluctuations of foetal heart rate that will provide early warning when a baby is in trouble. This research will help midwives and obstetricians provide the best possible care to all mothers and babies, reducing both the risks of unnecessary caesarean sections to mothers and the risks of brain damage and disability to their babies. This will improve quality of life for mothers, children, and their families. PAEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE EDUCATION AOTEAROA ($109,826 – 2 years) 1122005 2022 Dr Gemma Aburn, Dr Ross Drake, Dr Deborah Raphael, Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell School of Nursing, The University of Auckland Infants, children and young people with serious illness and their families and whānau currently receive palliative care that is dependent on where they live, and the expertise, knowledge and skills of the clinicians caring for them. While there is a specialist children's palliative care service based in Auckland and a small number of clinicians with specialist training in other parts of the country (Wellington, Christchurch and Waikato), paediatric palliative care is primarily delivered by paediatric teams in regional centres. These clinicians strive to do their best for children and families but have variable skills and training in this area. There is significant interest from paediatric teams to develop knowledge and skills to deliver quality palliative care to children. Currently there is no formal Paediatric Palliative care education programme available in New Zealand. This project aims to explore paediatric clinician’s attitudes, knowledge and skills in caring for children with serious illness and palliative care needs and seeks to develop an evidence based and culturally safe education programme specific to the New Zealand context recognising care needs of both Māori and non-Māori tamariki and their whānau. The education programme hopes to develop local skills and knowledge in Paediatric Palliative Care, ensuring equitable care is provided to all children and whānau. ANTIBIOTIC HYBRIDS AGAINST AMR ($159,991 – 2 years) 1121018 2021 Dr Andrew Thompson, Professor Greg Cook, Dr Veronica Playle Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses change over time and develop the ability to ward off the drugs designed to destroy them, making the treatment of infections difficult or even impossible. AMR is recognised as one of the leading threats to global health, currently resulting in about 2000 deaths daily, with fatalities predicted to skyrocket more than 10-fold within the next 30 years. In New Zealand, infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms are increasing, with the overuse of antibiotics and travel from regions with higher AMR levels (like South-East Asia) exacerbating the problem. Our research will utilise a different approach to drug design, where two complementary antibiotics are linked together into a single molecule. This approach offers several potential advantages, including better potency and safety, and a reduced chance of generating resistance; there are now several candidates of this type in clinical trials. By linking two drugs from a newly approved regimen to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, we have already been able to demonstrate superior antibacterial activity, including against resistant strains. Our study will optimise the design and physical properties of these “antibiotic hybrids”, aiming to develop a more effective and safer drug to treat severe bacterial infections. USING IN-SITU SIMULATION TO RESOLVE THREATS TO PATIENT SAFETY ($46,000 – 2 years) 1121017 2021 Professor Jennifer Weller, Dr Carlos Campos, Dr Jennifer Long, Ms Kaylene Henderson, Dr Andrew MacCormick, Professor Alan Merry Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, The University of Auckland In 2016, ACC funded the implementation of an innovative, national simulation-based team training programme for all public hospitals in Aotearoa - NetworkZ. The simulations are run in the actual workplace (in-situ), simulating real clinical challenges, and testing both the teams and the systems. With NetworkZ, we have transformed the capacity for simulation-based training for hospital staff across all public hospitals, both rural and urban, providing a valuable avenue for preparing teams to deal with future challenges in healthcare. Alongside this team training, we have identified multiple potential threats to patient safety such as missing, faulty, or inadequate equipment; lack of common understanding of protocols such as response to massive bleeding or trauma team activation; and gaps in staff knowledge and training. Though many of these faults have been resolved, there remains an ongoing challenge in systematically learning from these threats and ensuring they are fixed and are no longer a potential cause of harm to patients. In this study, we aim to proactively identify underlying threats in the operating and emergency departments. We also aim to develop a national threat reporting system through an in-depth exploration of factors that facilitate or impede resolving these threats. It will improve the identification of threats (by standardised in-situ simulations) and resolving these potential threats to patients through a national approach to quality improvement. CONNEXIN 43 AND PRETERM BRAIN INJURY ($159,351 – 2 years) 1121016 2021 Dr Justin Dean, Dr Joanne Davidson, Professor Alistair Gunn, Dr Panzao Yang Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland This study examines why premature babies have a high risk of neurodevelopmental impairment in later life. We have shown experimentally that exposure to infection/inflammation can impair growth of the brain, consistent with clinical findings. We will test the central hypothesis that inflammation-induced opening of small channels in the brain (called hemichannels) is a key regulating event that triggers impairment of brain development. We will dissect the role of hemichannels using a newborn model of low dose injection of inflammatory molecules and treatment with connexin hemichannel blocking peptides. This new knowledge will underpin the development of new treatment strategies for infection-related brain damage. PHARMACOKINETICS OF PERIOPERATIVE LIGNOCAINE ($64,810 - 2 years) 1121015 2021 Dr Jacqueline Hannam, Dr Daniel Chiang, Associate Professor Malcolm Tingle Dept of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Lignocaine infusions during and after surgery are increasingly popular to control pain, particularly in surgery for endometriosis, colorectal cancer and breast cancer. However, dosing is poorly defined and does not consider patient and surgical factors that may influence pharmacokinetics and clinical outcome. Current understanding of lignocaine pharmacokinetics (the relationship between dose and concentration) is inaccurate and outdated. Commonly used dosing regimens have resulted in plasma concentrations which may exceed the accepted toxic plasma concentration of 5µg/ml. The objective of this project is to develop robust pharmacokinetic model for lignocaine and its metabolite that will allow us to rationally adjust dose for different pain settings, populations, and over longer treatment durations without compromising patient safety. The study aims to characterise the pharmacokinetic profile of lignocaine and its primary active metabolite using population pharmacokinetic models. This is a prospective, observational, multicentre clinical study of 50 patients undergoing elective surgery within the Auckland region. Patients who are planned to receive intravenous lignocaine as part of their anaesthetic will be recruited. Patient and treatment factors and blood samples will be collected to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of lignocaine and its metabolite. EXPERIENCES OF THE END OF LIFE CHOICE 2019 ACT AMONGST HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, WHĀNAU AND FAMILIES ($156,142 – 2 years) 1121014 Dr Gary Cheung, Dr Rosemary Frey, Associate Professor Frederick Sundram, Associate Professor 2021 Dr Gary Cheung, Dr Rosemary Frey, Associate Professor Frederick Sundram, Associate Professor Sarah Cullum, Associate Professor Susan Bull, Associate Professor David Menkes, Dr Nicholas Hoeh, Dr Alisha Vara, Dr Adam Sims, Dr Jackie Robinson, Dr Deborah Balmer, Dr Melissa Carey, Dr Helen Cassidy Dept. of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland The End of Life Choice 2019 Act (the Act) comes into force in New Zealand on November 7, 2021. The Act provides a framework for people experiencing unbearable suffering from a terminal illness to have the option of requesting medical assistance to end their lives. The Act is likely to create many legal, ethical, clinical, and social ripples as it is implemented. This project has two aims. The first aim is to explore the experiences of health practitioners involved in assisted dying and allow them to reflect on their experiences. International studies have shown that participation in assisted dying has significant emotional and psychological effects on the involved practitioners. The second aim is to gain a more complete picture of the impacts of the Act by exploring the perspectives of whānau/family of assisted dying. This project has the potential to uncover knowledge and service gaps in the provision of the Act, along with understanding the emotional and other impacts of assisted dying on health practitioners and whānau/families. A knowledge translation plan will be developed to expand knowledge and capacities amongst key stakeholders and recommend changes in practice informed by the project findings. THE INFLAMMASOME AND DIABETIC RETINOPATHY ($155,995 – 2 years) 1121013 2021 Dr Odunayo Mugisho, Dr Rinki Murphy Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland Diabetes is one of the most common health problems in New Zealand affecting over 250,000 New Zealanders. It is associated with several complications one of which is diabetic retinopathy (DR), a chronic disease that can lead to vision loss. While there are a range of therapies currently available, these only treat late-stage DR signs without slowing the disease progression. Previous work done in our lab and by others have identified a new disease mechanism, the inflammasome pathway, that plays a role in the development and progression of DR. Furthermore, we have shown using several disease models that blocking this pathway using our anti-inflammasome drugs can prevent the development of DR. In the proposed study, we hope to use human donor eye tissues and blood samples to better understand how the inflammasome contributes to DR progression and to determine the best time to treat patients to prevent or reverse disease signs. FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY: PROTECTING CHILD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC ($159,611 – 2 years) 1121012 2021 Associate Professor Annette Henderson, Professor Nickola Overall Dept. of Psychology, The University of Auckland As NZ moves through the COVID-19 crisis to recovery, the long-term impact of the pandemic is of pressing concern. The pandemic has involved stressful challenges that continue to pose a threat to health and well-being. The scientific community has documented the health costs of the pandemic but has overlooked the family processes that may undermine or protect children’s health and well-being during this challenging time. The current research answers an urgent call to identify ways to address the costs of pandemic-related family disruptions to children’s health and well-being. Leveraging an existing family study, we will track the health and well-being of NZ families prior to the pandemic, during the Level 4 lockdown, and two years into the pandemic to identify the family risk processes (inter-parental conflict, poor parenting) that increase the risk of detrimental health and well-being outcomes for children. We will also identify the family resilience processes (family cohesion, co-operative coparenting) that buffer the health and wellbeing costs of the pandemic. The results will offer valuable insight into how to cultivate family resilience in the face of stress and insecurity, thereby improving the health and quality of life of NZ families and their children. VERIFICATION AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION OF AQP3 IN THE LENS ($113,016 – 2 years) 1121011 2021 Dr Rosica Petrova, Professor Paul Donaldson, Dr Julie Lim Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Despite safe and effective surgical treatments, lens cataract is still the leading cause of blindness in the world today. This is in part because researchers do not completely understand how the lens maintains its transparent and refractive properties over many decades of life. Research by our laboratory has shown that in the absence of a blood supply the lens generates a circulating flux of water that maintains lens functionality. They have proposed these water fluxes are a target for the development of novel medical therapies to treat cataract. The water flows in the lens are mediated by several different water channels from the Aquaporin (AQP) family of proteins, which are critical to the maintenance of lens transparency. Recently, we have identified an additional water channel, AQP3, in the lens. Unlike the other lens AQPs, AQP3 has unique properties that implicate it in the removal of hydrogen peroxide, a known oxidative stress that has been linked to the initiation of cataract. Hence, by studying AQP3, we will determine not only the role of AQP3 in the lens, but whether it is a potential target for the development of novel anti-cataract therapies. ARRHYTHMOGENIC CALCIUM LEAK IN DIABETES ($158143 – 2 years) 1121010 2021 Dr Marie-Louise Ward, Dr Kenneth Tran, Dr Amelia Power, Professor Peter Ruygrok Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the largest and fastest growing health issues within New Zealand and is closely linked with the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias and heart failure. Our study focuses on the calcium cycling changes that occur in the heart’s contractile cells, cardiomyocytes. Each heart beat is triggered by coordinated calcium release within cardiomyocytes. Clearance of calcium within cardiomyocytes between beats (diastole) is equally important for proper relaxation to enable refilling of the heart. When calcium release occurs between beats this is known as ‘diastolic calcium leak’. Our recent research has revealed that atrial tissue from diabetic patients have increased diastolic calcium leak and contract more weakly than tissue from non-diabetic patients. These observations warrant further investigation since diastolic calcium leak in animal models of heart disease has been shown to drive progression to heart failure, trigger fatal cardiac arrhythmias, promote muscle damage and decrease exercise capacity. The overall aim of this project is to identify and target cellular and molecular triggers that promote diastolic calcium leak in human atrial tissue from diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This information will be invaluable in identifying strategies to protect the hearts of diabetics. FAIR-ACS ($125,835 – 2 years) 1121009 2021 Dr Nikki Earle, Professor Rob Doughty, Dr Katrina Poppe, Dr Anna Rolleston, Associate Professor Malcolm Legget School of Medicine, The University of Auckland Improved treatments mean more people are surviving events such as heart attacks, and are then living with heart disease. Recurrent events for these people are common, with nearly 30% dying or being readmitted to hospital for related causes within one year of their first heart attack. Despite being a leading cause of death for women, historically there has been significant under-representation of women in heart disease research studies and the evidence base for therapies is less in women than it is for men. In this study of 800 women admitted to New Zealand hospitals with a first-time heart attack, we will measure a number of heart biomarkers (including genetic markers of heart disease risk), as well as the known clinical and environmental cardiovascular risk factors such as nutrition, stress, and physical activity. This will help us to better understand how heart attacks manifest differently in women compared with men, and to identify risk markers for subsequent events that are specific to women, leading to more personalised and better targeted treatments and more equitable health outcomes for women with heart disease in New Zealand. ELIMINATING GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS ($160,000 – 2 years) 1121008 2021 Dr Alan Cameron, Dr Jia-Yun Tsai, Professor Thomas Proft, Distinguished Professor Dame Margaret Brimble School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human pathogen responsible for a number of diseases, including acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). These diseases are the cause of significant mortality and morbidity globally, with Māori and Pacific children in New Zealand amongst the most heavily impacted. GAS can become internalised inside host epithelial cells, forming intracellular reservoirs that allow it to evade the host immune system and drug treatment. This internalisation is associated with treatment failure and recurring GAS infection. The current antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin) used to treat GAS infection, fail to penetrate host epithelial cells and new cell permeable treatments are desperately needed. Some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently been identified to penetrate human cells without significant toxic effects, but their usefulness is often limited by poor half-life. Peptide stapling is a modern approach to improve the biological stability of AMPs and importantly, is established to enhance mammalian cell penetration. However, the ability of stapled AMPs to eradicate internalised bacteria (e.g. GAS) is yet to be investigated. Using a novel and improved peptide stapling technique recently developed by the lead investigator, stapled AMPs will be prepared and investigated as new treatment strategies for intracellular GAS infections. VAPOR-C TRIAL ($142,668 - 2 years) 2121004 2021 Dr Anna Waylen, Professor Tim Short, Dr Doug Campbell, Dr Greg O'Grady, Dr Ben Lawrence, Dr Sarah Nicolson Anaesthesia Department, Auckland District Health Board Each year 25,000 people in New Zealand are diagnosed with cancer, with a large number undergoing surgical treatment under anaesthesia. Alarmingly, early evidence suggests that the type of anaesthetic drugs used during surgery can affect cancer spread, patient survival and the risk of experiencing long-term pain after surgery. Recent studies show that traditional inhaled (volatile) anaesthesia may have a negative effect on the body's defence systems, resulting in worse outcomes after cancer surgery. Early evidence suggests that the more recent alternative anaesthetic drugs propofol (total intravenous anaesthesia) and local anaesthetic lignocaine infusion may protect the immune system, thereby reducing cancer metastasis, improving patient survival and decreasing chronic pain after surgery. We are participating in an international trial to identify if widely used anaesthesia drugs can improve outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for bowel or lung cancer. Bowel cancer and lung cancer are the two highest causes of cancer death in New Zealand, with almost 3000 New Zealanders dying from these diseases each year. We believe that this study has the potential to drastically improve patient well-being and population health for a large number of New Zealanders. rEPO AND HYPOTHERMIA FOR NEONATAL ENCEPHALOPATHY ($160,000 - 2 years) 1121001 2021 Dr Guido Wassink, Professor Alistair Gunn, Professor Laura Bennet Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland In New Zealand and around the world, perinatal oxygen deprivation remains a major cause of neonatal death and lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy. These outcomes are devastating for the individual, families and caretakers, and place a significant burden on our finite healthcare and educational resources. Therapeutic hypothermia, mild brain cooling, was developed in New Zealand and is now standard treatment for perinatal brain damage from oxygen deprivation, to improve infant survival without disability. However, hypothermic protection is partial such that nearly half of infants either still die or develop disabilities, despite brain cooling. Thus, new strategies that can further improve neurological outcomes are critical. Recent evidence suggests that recombinant erythropoietin, a pleiotropic growth factor, can support survival of injured brain cells, and help promote repair of the newborn brain after oxygen deprivation. It is not known if recombinant erythropoietin can improve outcomes after hypothermia. This research project will use the same clinically-relevant model of oxygen deprivation in the developing brain that helped establish therapeutic hypothermia, and tests whether giving recombinant erythropoietin after therapeutic hypothermia is better than cerebral cooling alone. This will provide critical information that will guide future clinical trials. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,768. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. PACE C: INTERNATIONAL RANDOMISED STUDY OF CONVENTIONALLY FRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY VS SBRT FOR ORGAN-CONFINED PROSTATE CANCER ($68,320 - 1 year, 5 months) 2121005 2021 Dr Giuseppe Sasso, Dr Maria-Lee Pearse Radiation Oncology Department, Auckland District Health Board Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in New Zealand. Traditionally prostate cancer was treated with radiation over a period of 7-8 weeks. The impact of prolonged treatment in terms of increased hospital visits and its effect on the budget is quite significant. Recent evidences have shown that it can be effectively treated over 4 weeks safely and has thus been adopted as the standard of care. PACE C aims to reduce it further to just five fractions. This would allow the patients to return to normal life faster and bring down the economic and psychological burden. Moreover, the positive effect on the radiotherapy services nationwide is substantial. The reduction in the treatment duration results in an increased capacity for the radiation units thereby allowing us to treat more patients in any given time and as such faster access to healthcare by all. Ultimately, this provides easy access for all to the best services, in a timely manner to improve overall cancer outcomes. Despite a large body of evidence for SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) in prostate, PACE C is the first randomised trial comparing these two radiation schedules and its results can change the present standard of care. COVID-19 VACCINATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE - NEW ZEALAND (C-VAK NZ study) ($159,505 - 12 months) 2121006 2021 Associate Professor Helen Pilmore, Dr Michael Collins, Dr Ian Dittmer, Professor Germaine Wong, Dr Paul Manley, Dr Sally Roberts Dept. of Renal Medicine, Auckland District Health Board Aotearoa New Zealand is in a unique position internationally due to our low community exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hence we can expect that very few dialysis or kidney transplant recipients will have immunity to COVID-19. Vaccination is expected to be undertaken in 2021. Dialysis and kidney transplant recipients are often less able to mount an immune response to vaccination. In addition, vaccination can stimulate anti HLA antibodies and cause acute antibody mediated rejection in transplant recipients and reduce the likelihood of acceptable transplant matches for patients on dialysis waiting for a transplant. We plan to measure the serological response to the COVID-19 vaccination in patients on dialysis and after kidney transplant in order to determine if these patient groups have a lower response to vaccination. Additionally we will identify whether patients awaiting kidney transplantation develop new anti HLA antibodies after vaccination. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $11,620. BM12 CAST STUDY: CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AFTER SIBLING-DONOR ALLOGENIC STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION ($98,982 - 2 years) 2121002 2021 Dr Clinton Lewis, Dr Richard Doocey, Dr Timothy Hawkins, Professor Peter Browett, Dr Nicole Chien Cancer and Blood Services, Auckland District Health Board Acute leukaemia and myelodysplasia are the cause of most bone marrow transplants worldwide. This study aims to prove that a drug called cyclophosphamide works better than current standard of care at reducing the side effects and preventing graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) in BMT patients. Currently, 40% of bone marrow transplant patients develop GVHD and 5-10% die within a year of transplant. While their initial disease is cured, many surviving patients suffer with the terrible effects of this painful, debilitating disease. The BM12 CAST study is a randomised clinical trial conducted in the hospital setting. It is the only study of its kind testing this new treatment to reduce side-effects and improve the quality of life for post-transplant patients and positive results will have an important impact on international treatment practice. SYNTHETIC LETHALITY AND DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE ($159,636 - 2 years) 1121007 2021 Associate Professor Michael Hay, Dr Barbara Lipert, Dr Tet-Woo Lee, Dr Stephen Jamieson Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Cancer cells use DNA repair mechanisms to escape the full effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Our recent discovery of a new drug, SN39536, that inhibits a key repair enzyme, DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), provides a new tool to potentiate cancer treatment with both modalities. This DNA-PK inhibitor could also be used in patients whose tumours have defects in the DNA repair genes, a very common feature of cancer cells that results in metastasis and therapy resistance. We are seeking to identify which particular tumour mutations will combine with the drug to kill the tumour cells. We will use a gene-editing approach to individually inactivate every gene involved in DNA repair and then monitor the effect of SN39536 alone, or in combination with chemotherapy or another DNA repair inhibitor. The identification of effective drug-mutation combinations will provide a path to clinical use of SN39536 in cancer patients whose tumours harbour these defined mutations. This approach is likely to have reduced side effects compared to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $12,702. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. NATURE'S PACEMAKER ($159,859 - 2 years) 1121003 2021 Dr David Crossman, Dr Jizhong Bai, Dr Kyriakos Varnava, Dr Angus Grey, Dr Rohit Ramachandra, Professor Julian Paton Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Human heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the energetic demands of an active lifestyle. This condition results from cardiac muscle cells losing their ability to generate force. This is a serious health condition and a major cause of death in New Zealanders. In this research, we will investigate a novel pacemakers ability to reverse remodel the pathological changes that damage the electrical connections responsible for signalling muscle cell shortening that generates force. In particular, we are interested in characterising the changes in collagen remodelling that is responsible for damaging these electrical connections, a finding we identified in previous research supported by the Auckland Medical Research Foundation. Moreover, we will identify which molecules interact with collagen VI, how they change in heart failure and reverse with treatment with our pacemaker. This will be achieved with state-of-the-art super-resolution microscopy and mass-spectrometry to provide both a visual and molecular analysis. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $9,480. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. NOVEL TREATMENT FOR TINNITUS ($74,803 - 2 years) 7720016 2020 Professor Dirk De Ridder, Dr Yiwen Zheng, Dr Grant Searchfield, Associate Professor Bruce Russell, Dr Divya Adhia, Professor Paul Glue, Professor Paul Smith Surgical Sciences, University of Otago Tinnitus, often referred to as 'ringing in the ears', is a prevalent and disabling disorder worldwide. In New Zealand, tinnitus affects approximately 6% of the total population and severely impairs quality of life in a significant proportion of individuals. Current available treatments for tinnitus have a small effect, warranting new targeted treatment approaches. Several studies demonstrate altered activity in brain regions that are involved in the hearing processes, in individuals with tinnitus. The combined treatment of MDMA (Ecstasy) and sound therapy can normalize altered brain activity through learning, thereby reduce tinnitus perception and related distress. The current study will explore the safety and the effect of combined MDMA (Ecstasy) and sound therapy on tinnitus perception and related distress, and also evaluate its effects on the brain’s activity in the regions associated with tinnitus. Funded by: Jean Cathie Fund for Tinnitus Research ENDOCANNABINOIDS AND TINNITUS PERCEPTION ($74,916 - 1 year) 7720015 2020 Dr Yiwen Zheng, Dr David Finlay, Professor Paul Smith, Professor Michelle Glass Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago Chronic tinnitus is a debilitating condition affecting approximately 10% of the population and for which there are limited treatment options. It has long been known that the perception of auditory signals can be modulated by a neural network called the auditory gating system, which acts as a filter to inhibit repeated irrelevant sounds. Based on this, the perception of tinnitus has been suggested to be a result of failure in this inhibitory auditory gating system. However, it is not clear what molecular changes are driving this. This project will test the involvement of the endocannbinoid system in tinnitus perception through its possible modulatory effects on auditory gating, in an animal model. Specifically, we will induce tinnitus in rats using acoustic trauma and confirm the animal’s perception of tinnitus using a well-established behavioural paradigm. We will then assess the auditory gating function using electrophysiology and measure the expression of cannabinoid CB1 receptors using radioligand autoradiography, as well as the activity of two enzymes responsible for endocannabinoid degradation, using enzyme activity assays. The results will contribute to a better understanding of tinnitus perception and lay the foundation for further studies into developing effective treatments for tinnitus, targeting the auditory gating system. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $15,309. Funded by: Jean Cathie Fund for Tinnitus Research A NOVEL GENE REGULATION SYSTEM FOR USE IN GENE THERAPY ($158,550 - 2 years) 1120003 2020 Associate Professor Deborah Young, Dr Angela Wu Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Gene therapy has begun to deliver impressive therapeutic benefits for a range of human diseases, including those affecting the brain. Current strategies use a molecular Trojan horse to deposit a therapeutic gene into sick as well as healthy neurons in the target brain region. Ideally, the therapy should be restricted to sick neurons only, to reduce the potential risk of adverse effects or toxicity. We have developed a novel gene switch for use in gene therapy that harnesses disease-specific calpain signals to restrict the production of the therapy in sick cells only at the time of need. In this project, we ask whether these same disease-specific calpain signals that kickstart mechanisms that ultimately kill neurons in Huntington's disease be used to activate our gene switch and produce a therapy to halt the inevitable destruction of these same brain cells. As part of the gene-drug development process, we will confirm our gene switch works in a mouse model of Huntington's disease before we conduct a head-to-head comparison between a conventional versus our gene switch-regulated gene therapy approach. The outcomes of this work contribute a new technology that will facilitate the broad translation of gene therapy from the bench to the clinic. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $11,334. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Co-funded by the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand ACCESS TO ENDOSCOPY FOR MAORI AT CMDHB ($10,580 - 6 months) 3120006 2020 Ms Maree Weston, Dr Andrew MacCormick, Ms Emma Espiner, Associate Professor Elana Curtis Department of General Surgery, Middlemore Hospital, Counties Maunkau District Health Board This project examines the role of health systems in perpetuating inequities. Bowel cancer is a major cause of cancer death in Aotearoa, accounting for approximately 1200 deaths each year. Māori are less likely to receive care, are more likely to receive lower quality of care, and are more likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer at an advanced stage. Each of these factors contributes to reduced survival rates for Māori compared to non-Māori. This evidence of inequity in bowel cancer treatment highlights the need to scrutinise all pathways into health services for Maori with an equity lens to determine if structural barriers at Counties Manukau DHB are contributing to the greater burden of harm from bowel cancer experienced by Maori. Internal audit data from the DHB suggest ethnic disparities exist within the referral system to endoscopy services - a key step in the process to diagnose bowel cancer. It appears that Māori do not successfully access endoscopy services at the same rates that non-Māori do. This project aims to examine the ethnic disparities, understand the barriers and enablers to access, and suggest a more equity-focused system for endoscopy services. Funded by: Sir Lewis Ross Fund BANISHING TRYPTOPHAN CATABOLISM ($159,056 - 2 years) 1120009 2020 Dr Petr Tomek, Associate Professor Brian Palmer, Associate Professor Kaylene Simpson, Associate Professor Ute Röhrig Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Cancers co-opt numerous strategies to escape elimination by the patient’s immune system. Many cancers produce an enzyme called IDO1 that paralyses the cancer-killing immune cells of the patient by producing toxic chemicals. To restore the function of the cancer-killing immune cells, researchers have been developing drugs to disable IDO1. Unfortunately, one of these drugs recently produced negative results in a large clinical study. This negative outcome likely occurred because the drug could not inhibit the IDO1’s evil twin called TDO2 that cancers co-opt for the same malignant purpose as IDO1. This research aims to identify a molecule capable of inactivating both IDO1 and TDO2 at the same time. In collaboration with Australian and Swiss researchers, we will use cutting-edge robotic and computational technologies to discover molecules that disable both IDO1 and TDO2 simultaneously in cancer cells. In subsequent projects, we intend to modify the most promising molecule identified so that it permanently glues itself to IDO1 and TDO2. We reason that this “sticky” molecule will disable IDO1 and TDO2 more efficiently and will enhance the ability of patient’s immune cells to fight cancer. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,376. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Funded by Anonymous Donor ATOVAQUONE FOR IMPROVED CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY ($159,275 - 2 years) 1120013 2020 Dr Dean Singleton, Dr Kimiora Henare, Dr Stephen Jamieson, Dr Tet-Woo Lee Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Immunotherapies that harness the power of the body's own immune system to kill cancer cells are revolutionising cancer therapy. However, most cancer patients are unlikely to benefit from current immune checkpoint inhibitors because the microenvironment within solid tumours impairs the activity of tumour killing immune cells (T cells). Interferon (IFN) signalling in tumour myeloid cells, another group of immune cells, activates the T cells and stimulates them to attack the tumour. However, the IFN response is diminished in tumour-infiltrated myeloid cells when they become oxygen-starved (hypoxic). The ensuing suppression of IFN responses impairs immune surveillance and renders immune checkpoint therapy ineffective. Atovaquone, a commonly prescribed anti-parasitic drug that decreases oxygen consumption rate, can abolish the hypoxic compartment in tumours. In this project, we will determine whether atovaquone can reoxygenate breast and head and neck tumour models. We will then use these models to investigate whether the loss of hypoxia decreases tumour recruitment of myeloid cells (specifically macrophages) and their co-optation into immunosuppressive states. This work will explore an important opportunity to advance immunotherapy use in the treatment of metastatic breast and head and neck cancer patients. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $9,266. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Funded by Anonymous Donor AS OLD AS YOUR STEM CELLS ($159,975 - 2 years) 1120007 2020 Professor Trevor Sherwin, Dr Julie Lim Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland Why do women live longer than men? 95 % of supercentenarians (110+ years old) are female, and unusually healthy. At the point of health decline, the resident organ stem cell function can no longer return the organ to homeostasis thereby linking sex and stem cells to the ageing process. We aim to elucidate the mechanisms that protect female stem cells from the ravages of ageing which leads to the prolonged health span. To date, two small animal studies have identified a disparity in the regenerative potential of stem cells from muscle tissue and in hematopoietic stem cells in mice. Simultaneously, in our studies using adult stem cells derived from human eyes, we have identified the first discernible difference between stem cells isolated from female and male human donors with the male derived stem cells showing alarmingly decreasing potency with age compared to the female cells. We propose that the eye is an ideal model in which to study the declining potency of male stem cells and enable us to determine the stem cell mechanisms as to why women live longer than men. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $8,563. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. GENOME-CORRECTED FIBROBLASTS FOR USE IN 3D SKIN SHEETS ($160,000 - 2 years) 1120018 2020 Dr Hilary Sheppard, Dr Sarah Meidinger, Dr Vaughan Feisst, Dr Diana Purvis School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland We aim to develop a genome-engineered, regenerative skin product for people with a fragile skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB). EB is caused by a defect in one of the genes that create the ‘adhesive’ that glues skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) together. Although the numbers affected are not large (approximately 150 in NZ), health care costs are considerable. The impact on the individual and families is significant due to chronic wounds, pain and complications including early mortality. Currently there is no cure for this condition. Building on our expertise of editing keratinocytes, we now want to focus our attention on editing fibroblasts. Using a small sample of patient skin, we will repair the defective gene using CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering. "Fixing" both of the skin cell types allows us to then generate full-thickness skin sheets that could be used to permanently cover/treat the chronic wounds of EB patients. This low risk, proof of principle application combines the expertise of local, national and international clinicians, molecular and cellular biologists. In this project we are using gene editing to target a skin condition, but gene editing therapy can target a range of conditions. Therefore, this research paves the way for clinical grade gene editing in NZ and will help to build a capability with numerous clinical and research uses. ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF IRON ($155,032 - 2 years) 1120016 2020 Dr Manisha Sharma, Associate Professor Darren Svirskis, Professor Paul Kilmartin, Professor Anthony Phillips, Dr Claire Hemmaway School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Iron plays a significant role in various biological process such as transport of oxygen around the body. In normal physiological conditions, iron in blood, is present in a bound form to the protein transferrin and is nontoxic. However, in certain pathological conditions excess free iron is found in blood, unbound to protein transferrin. This form of iron is known as non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI). NTBI is very toxic, capable of generating highly reactive free radical species responsible for oxidative damage to various organs of the body. NTBI is a potential diagnostic indicator to assess the iron status of patients at-risk. To date there is no direct method available to measure NTBI levels and excess iron is diagnosed indirectly by determining haematological clinical tests, which often underestimate free toxic iron levels and are inaccurate. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a standardised universally accepted assay method, suitable for translation into pathology laboratories. This project aims to develop an electrochemical method for accurate and rapid detection of NTBI in human blood plasma. Electrochemical techniques are advantageous due to their low cost, high speed, simplicity and has the potential to be converted into a compact biosensing kit. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $11,973. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. SELF-CLEANING ANTIMICROBIAL SURFACES ($160,000 - 2 years) 1120012 2020 Dr Viji Sarojini, Professor Jadranka Travas-Sejdic, Associate Professor Jun Lu School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are one of the most common healthcare associated infections in New Zealand. Unfortunately, all catheters eventually get colonised by bacteriuria. The colonising bacteria produce “crystalline” biofilms that are highly resistant to antibiotics and block the urine flow through the catheter. This necessitates frequent removal and re-insertion of the catheter causing significant discomfort and emotional burden on patients. Current mitigation strategies to prevent bacterial accumulation onto urinary catheters include developing antifouling and antimicrobial surfaces. Unfortunately, these modified catheters have several drawbacks such as lack of long-term efficacy due to bacterial accumulation, development of bacterial resistance and cytotoxicity. From our previous research, we have identified a series of novel peptide-based therapeutics with broad spectrum antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against several uropathogens Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Silicon surfaces immobilized with the most potent peptide, were not colonized by biofilms. This proposal tackles one of the long-term efficacy issues associated with urinary catheters that arises from the accumulation of dead bacteria on catheter surfaces. A novel pH responsive antibiofilm self-cleaning urinary catheter coating will be developed combining the antimicrobial power of our peptide therapeutics with the pH responsiveness of natural dextran polymers. ORGANOIDS, KIDNEY DISEASE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT ($150,000 – 15 months) 1120002 2020 Dr Veronika Sander, Associate Professor Alan Davidson, Dr Janak de Zoysa, Dr Thitinee Vanichapol Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Kidney disease is a major health concern in New Zealand (NZ) with 11% of the population thought to have some form of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Podocytes are specialised cells that form the kidney's blood filters, and they are the major target of injury in CKD. Currently, therapies do not target podocytes but instead act systemically and often with limiting side-effects. We have identified a NZ family with a unique inherited kidney disease that is associated with a mutation in the WT1 gene, a key regulator of podocyte function. The goal of this proposal is to use state-of-the-art human kidney organoids (mini kidneys grown in a dish) to establish a model of the patients’ kidney defects. This will help us understand how the WT1 mutation leads to disease. In addition, we will use these organoids to test the therapeutic effects of a drug-like compound that we found can ameliorate the effects of the WT1 mutation, thereby helping advance the development of a new therapy for CKD in the future. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $11,330. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. CNP AND FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION ($50,680 – 2 years) 1120017 2020 Dr Mark Oliver, Associate Professor Katie Groom, Professor Frank Bloomfield, Professor Eric Espiner, Dr Timothy Prickett Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Small size at birth caused by fetal growth restriction (FGR) decreases a baby’s chances of survival and can have negative consequences for health throughout life. Using current methods, measuring the size of the mother’s tummy or ultrasound, miss at least a third of cases in New Zealand and more worldwide. These missed cases are at increased risk of stillbirth. FGR is usually accompanied by low blood oxygen content in utero because the placenta is not working properly. Measuring fetal blood oxygen content is not possible in human babies but we can do so in sheep fetuses. A hormone called C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), found in maternal blood, may be a marker of low fetal blood oxygen and FGR. This study will investigate whether CNP could be a useful test for FGR, detecting it more reliably and with an inexpensive, noninvasive test that does not require specialist skills. We will study the detailed relationship between fetal blood oxygen and maternal CNP in sheep to inform future research in women and their babies. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $3,167. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Co-Funded by Cure Kids END OF LIFE CARE DURING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ($120,079 - 18 months) 1120010 2020 Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell, Professor Merryn Gott, Dr Jackie Robinson, Dr Lisa Williams, Dr Rosemary Frey, Associate Professor Janine Wiles, Dr Melissa Carey, Dr Natalie Anderson, Dr Jenny Parr School of Nursing, The University of Auckland The impact of Covid-19 restrictions has been profound for people who have experienced the death of a whānau or family member since we first moved to Level 4 in March 2020. During Lockdown many people died alone due to visitor restrictions, with family/whānau grief exacerbated by an inability to hold tangihanga and funerals and even under Level 1 measures arranging visits from overseas relatives is complex. Understanding the circumstances – and experiences – of end of life care and dying from the family/whānau perspective is critical to informing national guidelines regarding optimizing palliative and end of life care during pandemics. Working in partnership with Auckland and Counties DHBs, we will conduct a mixed methods study involving over 1,000 bereaved family and whānau caregivers and approximately 60 health professionals, NGO and community development workers. Findings will inform the development of evidence-based guidelines and an inter-professional education resource to support DHBs, Hospices, Primary Healthcare Organisations, Aged Residential Care Facilities and the Ministry of Health in planning how to ensure high quality and equitable palliative and end of life care during pandemics. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,889. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. DO PPI DRUGS ADVERSELY INTERACT WITH CAPECITABINE ($81,174 - 2 years) 1120011 2020 Associate Professor Nuala Helsby, Dr Edmond Ang, Dr Sanjeev Deva, Dr Soo Hee Jeong Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Many anticancer drugs cause heartburn and patients are often given proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs to help with these symptoms. Capecitabine is a tablet form of 5-Fluorouracil, which is given intravenously. Capecitabine is converted in the body by a multi-step process prior to formation of 5-Fluorouracil. Recent studies suggest that individuals prescribed PPI drugs with capecitabine have poorer disease survival than patients treated with 5-Fluorouracil and PPI drugs. The reason for this difference is not known. One suggestion is that changes in the pH of the stomach from use of PPI affects the dissolution of the tablet and decreases how much capecitabine enters the body. However, the only published information on the effect of PPI on capecitabine blood concentrations was a flawed study. Hence it is not known if there is this type of interaction between PPI and capecitabine. We will undertake a series of studies to assess whether PPI adversely affect the absorption of capecitabine tablets in patients and to also investigate other mechanisms of how PPI may interfere with capecitabine action in cells grown in the laboratory. By understanding how PPI drugs interact with capecitabine we can help NZ oncologists decide whether it is appropriate to prescribe these drugs together. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $3,267. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Co-Funded by Cancer Research Trust New Zealand THE MOLECULAR CLOCK REGULATES ANTIBACTERIAL RESPONSES ($156,598 - 2 years) 1120004 2020 Associate Professor Christopher Hall, Associate Professor Guy Warman Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland The immune system has evolved to anticipate and prepare for daily fluctuations in bacterial exposure by coordinating a heightened antibacterial response. This cunning adaptation is believed to be regulated by a molecular timer (or clock) that operates in immune cells and tissues to elevate antibacterial responses when we are active, and exposure to pathogens is greatest. Given genetic or environmental disruption of this molecular timer (e.g. from shift work or jet lag) enhances the risk of infection, pharmacologic targeting of the molecular clock, and specific timing of antimicrobial therapies, are emerging as exciting new approaches to treat infections. To realise this therapeutic potential, we need to understand how these molecular timers operate within different components of the immune system to fight infections. We have evidence that a molecular clock regulates the activity of a powerful weapon of the immune system that detects and eliminates bacterial infections, called the complement system. This project will uncover exactly how the molecular clock regulates oscillations in complement antibacterial activity and whether targeting the molecular clock can elevate this antibacterial response. We expect this knowledge will unlock new approaches to fight infections around the clock. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,938. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. PREDICTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS IN CANCER PATIENTS ($159,944 - 2 YEARS) 1120015 2020 Professor Mark Elwood, Dr Essa Tawfiq, Dr Corina Grey, Dr Matire Harwood, Professor Rod Jackson, Dr Arier Chi Lun Lee, Professor Mark McKeage, Dr Vanessa Selak, Dr Sandar Tin Tin, Dr L. Susan Wells Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland In New Zealand we can assess people’s future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attacks and related diseases, to help decisions particularly about lipid-lowering and blood pressure lowering treatments. About 500,000 patients are in this GP-based system, called PREDICT. Cancer is a long-term disease. In NZ, 64% of cancer patients are alive more than five years after diagnosis, with about 15,000 in PREDICT. There are about 95,000 cancer survivors in NZ. Apart from cancer, the greatest risk to these patients is CVD. We will test whether PREDICT gives accurate results for those with cancer, and test if it can be improved for cancer patients. We will assess whether the risks of CVD are increased in cancer patients. We will give particular attention to Māori and Pacific populations, who have higher rates of CVD and higher rates of death from cancer. We will also use another less detailed system, VARIANZ, with over 70,000 cancer patients. This study uses non-identified data from several sources, with strict confidentiality and data protection systems. No individual patients need to be approached. This research will give valuable new information on CVD and cancer, and improve the treatment of individual patients, and health policies and systems. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $8,091. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Funding contribution: Rose Richardson Estate LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF AIRWAY MICROBIOTA IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS ($159,003 - 2 years) 1120008 2020 Professor Richard Douglas, Dr Kristi Biswas, Dr Brett Wagner, Dr Mark O'Carroll Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-shortening inherited disease in New Zealand. There is currently no cure for this disease and life-long treatment is required. Patients with CF produce thick mucus that they then have difficulty clearing from their airways. As a result, CF patients suffer from repeated bacterial infections and are prescribed several courses of antibiotics, which increase the risk of developing antibiotic resistance. Although the bacterial pathogens found in the lungs of CF patients have been researched extensively, it remains unclear if the same pathogens are also found in the sinuses. Our project proposes a long-term study that investigates the bacteria in the sinuses and lower airways within the same CF patient throughout acute infections and when patients are clinically stable. Specifically, we will apply sequencing techniques to evaluate the transmission of bacteria between airway sites within the same patient and assess changes in antibiotic resistance over time. This will be the first study in NZ to examine longitudinally the sinus and lung microbiomes of adult patients with CF. This project will contribute significantly new knowledge about the dynamics of the bacteria in the CF airway and help improve antibiotic treatments for this lifelong condition. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,152. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE WHĀNAU APP FOR SELF-HARM ($158,802 - 2 years) 1120001 2020 Dr Liesje Donkin, Ms Tania Cargo, Associate Professor Sarah Hetrick, Mrs Vartika Sharma Dept. of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland There is currently little knowledge about self-harm, and a lack of resources to support whānau (families) that have been developed and tested in New Zealand. This lack of whānau knowledge can increase the level of distress and isolation that young people feel and may lead to worsening mental health of both the whānau and the young person. This research uses a specific bicultural approach of He Awa Whiria (the braided rivers approach) which ensures that a kaupapa Māori approach is able to sit alongside but be separate from the Pākehā approach, although they may also influence each other. By using this approach, the research will create a resource, which is both by and for Māori to support Māori whānau using their own experiences, and those of their young people. The development of co-designed resources based on current best practice and will improve access to tools that can help whānau support their young person and enhance the wellbeing of the young person and the whānau alike. This improved wellbeing may reduce the severity and frequency of self-harm and potentially reduce hospital admissions for self-harm requiring medical attention. HIPPOCAMPAL DEFICITS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ($158,373 - 2 years) 1120020 2020 Dr Juliette Cheyne, Associate Professor Johanna Montgomery, Dr Kevin Lee, Dr Yewon Jung Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland The development of head-mounted miniaturised microscopes (miniscopes) enables brain activity to be recorded in freely moving rodents. By using miniscopes we can directly decipher how brain cell activity underlies behaviour as it happens in the awake behaving animal. Furthermore, we can utilise this technology to understand the mechanisms of behavioural changes in neurological diseases. Here we will examine the cellular mechanisms that underlie behavioural deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Individuals with ASD display a range of behavioural changes including learning difficulties, social deficits, and repetitive behaviours. These behaviours are well replicated in mouse models allowing their cellular underpinnings to be explored. Several of the behaviours that are affected in ASD are mediated by a brain region called the hippocampus. We will utilise miniscopes to examine cellular activity in the hippocampus during spatial and social memory tasks. We will also determine whether a dietary zinc supplement, previously shown to prevent ASD behaviours from developing, returns hippocampal activity to normal. The ability to examine brain activity and behaviour simultaneously will advance our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that cause behavioural deficits in ASD. Improved understanding of the mechanism of action of our treatment will aid its translation into clinical trials. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,029. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. MELANOMA EV-CHIP ($159,937 - 2 years) 1120005 2020 Dr Cherie Blenkiron, Dr Colin Hisey, Professor Cristin Print, Ms Sandra Fitzgerald Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Immunotherapies like Keytruda offer people diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma an effective new choice for treatment. Identifying if a cancer is responding to these therapies is however challenging, limited to physical exam and imaging. Testing of the blood could detect people who do not respond much earlier thereby reducing the side effects and saving inconvenient travel to receive these treatments. International scientists have identified a new early detection marker of treatment response that analyses vesicle packages from the blood. Now the challenge remains to bridge the gap between research and hospital laboratories. For this purpose, our study will develop a state of the art microfluidic technology to provide a rapid, inexpensive and sensitive testing method for trial using patient blood samples. This study aims to firstly confirm in Aotearoa NZ patients that these vesicles can accurately detect whether an individual is responding to treatment. Secondly, we aim to build new expertise and offer training in bio-engineering to upskill new researchers. Finally, and most importantly, we will take steps towards the development of a clinically useful test that ultimately could improve patient outcomes and reduce inequities in testing through the provision of a portable, quick and inexpensive technology. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $8,400. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Funded by JI Sutherland Fund for Melanoma Research LYMPHATIC VESSEL GROWTH ($102,034 - 2 years) 1120014 2020 Dr Jonathan Astin Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland The lymphatic vasculature plays an essential role in fluid homeostasis where it collects excess tissue fluid and returns it to the bloodstream. Lymphatic vessels also provide a conduit for immune cell trafficking and therefore help to regulate our immune response. Dysregulated lymphatic vessel growth underpins many health conditions, ranging from cancer metastasis, kidney transplant rejection and breast cancer-associated secondary lymphoedema. In New Zealand, over 20% of women who undergo lymph node removal and/or radiotherapy as part of treatment for breast cancer will develop lymphatic dysfunction and secondary lymphoedema - the painful and debilitating buildup of fluid in tissues. In contrast, the aberrant overgrowth of lymphatic vessels is associated with cancer metastasis and can also cause the mis-trafficking of inflammatory cells, contributing towards the rejection of transplants. Consequently, there is considerable interest in therapies that can regulate lymphatic vessel growth to help treat these lymphatic-related conditions. However, the mechanisms that control lymphatic growth remain understudied. In this project we will address this by analysing zebrafish mutants that display either excessive lymphatic growth or a lack of lymphatic vessels, allowing us to determine how lymphatic vessel growth is controlled during development. This important work will pave the way for new therapies to treat lymphatic-related disease. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $6,793. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. GDM AND SCHOOL AGE OUTCOMES ($159,813 - 2 years) 1120019 2020 Dr Jane Alsweiler, Professor Caroline Crowther, Professor Gavin Brown, Dr Christopher McKinlay Dept. of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland In the last 20 years it has become very common for pregnant women in New Zealand to develop diabetes; 10% of women who didn’t have diabetes before becoming pregnant will have diabetes in pregnancy. Diabetes in pregnancy increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and when the baby is born. A healthy diet and exercise and, in some cases, medicine such as insulin, reduces the risk for women with diabetes in pregnancy. However, it is unknown if there are long-term risks for the baby’s brain development and risk of obesity if they are born to a mother who had diabetes in pregnancy. In this study we will compare children who were born to mothers with diabetes, with those whose mothers didn’t have diabetes, at 6-7 years of age. We will assess the children’s ability to do well at school and their body composition. The results of this study will give valuable information on the long-term outcomes of children who are born to mothers who develop diabetes in pregnancy. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $5,017. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. CISPLATIN-INDUCED COCHLEAR INFLAMMATION ($159,234 – 2 years) 1119017 2019 Associate Professor Srdjan Vlajkovic, Professor Paul Smith, Professor Peter Thorne Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Cisplatin chemotherapy is considered a mainstay of cancer treatment. However, the growing population of cancer survivors demands better management of long-term side effects of cisplatin treatment. Following cisplatin chemotherapy, 40-80% of adult patients and at least 50% of paediatric patients are left with permanent hearing loss. Currently, there are no treatments available to mitigate or reverse cisplatin-induced hearing loss, other than dose reduction or switching to non-cisplatin treatments. Both alternatives may have negative impacts on cancer treatment outcomes, hence hearing loss risk must be carefully weighed against therapeutic efficacy. This preclinical study is focused on damaging effects of cochlear inflammation as a result of systemic cisplatin administration. We aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms that contribute to resolution of cochlear inflammation and then develop a novel strategy for preventing hearing loss associated with cisplatin chemotherapy. Proposed studies are directly relevant for the prevention of hearing loss in cancer patients treated with cisplatin and other platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $15,482. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. ATP SIGNALLING AND COCHLEAR SYNAPTOPATHY ($108,968 – 2 years) 1119014 2019 Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr, Professor Peter Thorne, Associate Professor Srdjan Vlajkovic, Dr Shelly Lin Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Hearing loss is a global problem; according to the 2017’s report from the National Foundation of Deaf, in New Zealand, 880,000 people are estimated to be living with some degree of hearing loss in 2016. Hearing aids and cochlear implant technologies can provide improvement, albeit at significant cost to our economy, and these technologies cannot reverse the underlying pathology. There is a strong need for new therapeutic interventions to prevent the progression of underlying pathology and to facilitate recovery of the residual hearing. Our sense of hearing starts in the inner ear organ called cochlea, where “hair cells” respond to incoming sound and this information is propagated to our brain by auditory neurons. Recent research suggested the loss of communication between hair cells and neurons to be the major underlying cause of hearing loss. We have hypothesis that a group of ATP-receptor proteins are important for maintaining the connections between hair cells and neurons. In this proposal, we will test this hypothesis, in hope to identify these proteins as novel therapeutic targets that can prevent the loss of synaptic connections in the cochlea, and even reverse it by facilitating re-connection between hair cells and auditory neurons. Co-funded by: Eisdell Moore Centre In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $13,432. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. MEMBRANE DISRUPTION BY CYTOTOXIN AN-58 ($43,526 – 1 year) 1119016 2019 Associate Professor Christopher Squire, Distinguished Professor Margaret Brimble, Associate Professor Adam Patterson, Dr Jeff Smaill, Dr Paul Young, Dr Iman Kavianinia, Dr Iain Hay School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland Antibody drug conjugates (ADC) are an exciting development in treating breast cancer. These elegant engineered molecules can be envisioned as “heat-seeking missiles” that seek out cancer cells using a precision antibody and then deploy a “payload”, a toxic molecule that will destroy the cancer cell. This approach towards targeted cancer therapy is exemplified by trastuzumab emtansine (tradename Kadcyla™) that can effectively treat drug resistant breast cancers. There are over 60 ADCs in development, but each of them deploys only one of two different types of cancer-killing payloads – this lack of diversity is a serious impediment to progress. To address this problem, studies led by Dame Professor Margaret Brimble have discovered a novel cancer-killing payload called AN-58. AN-58 appears to kill cancer cells by disrupting membranes – the biological barriers that enclose and separate parts of cells. It is critical that we fully understand this cancer killing mechanism. We believe that AN-58 kills cancer cells by “punching” holes in their membranes – but seeing is believing. We will make artificial membranes that mimic cells and then use super-powerful electron microscopes to directly visualise how AN-58 destroys cancer cells! CREBRF VARIANT IN BETA-CELL FUNCTION ($159,324 – 2 years) 1119019 2019 Dr Troy Merry, Dr Paul Docherty, Distinguished Professor Geoffrey Chase, Dr Rinki Murphy, Professor Peter Shepherd Discipline of Nutrition, The University of Auckland New Zealand’s largest and fastest growing health problem is type 2 diabetes (T2D). Elevated blood sugar levels associated with T2D increases the risk of developing many related diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD), liver disease, stroke and microvascular complications that lead to blindness, amputations and chronic kidney failure. Genetics is a major factor contributing to an individual’s risk of developing T2D. Recently a small change in a gene called CREBRF has been shown to be protective against the development of T2D. This genetic variation is present in 20-30% of people of Polynesian ancestry living in New Zealand. We currently do not know how this variant protects from T2D, but we do know that the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, and insulin is responsible for lower blood sugar levels after a meal. When T2D develops the pancreas’s ability to produce insulin is reduced, causing a rise in blood sugar levels. In this project we will investigate whether the genetic variant in the CREBRF gene may be protecting the pancreas cells from damage, and this leads to a reduce T2D risk in some people of Māori and Pacific ancestry. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $16,732. TME STRESS IN HNSCC ($151,615 – 2 years) 1119012 2019 Dr Tet-Woo Lee, Dr Stephen Jamieson, Dr Dean Singleton Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland The microenvironment in which tumours grow is low in oxygen, acidic and deficient in nutrients. Tumours must adapt to these stressful conditions to survive and do so through changes in gene regulation. However, many of the genes responsible for promoting survival of tumour cells within this hostile microenvironment remain unknown. Using a method called a functional genomics screen, we have systematically identified genes in head and neck cancer cells that could modulate tolerance to various microenvironment stressors, including low oxygen, acidic pH and nutrient deprivation. In this project, we plan to validate the findings of our functional genomics screens by individually investigating these identified genes. In doing so, we will improve our understanding of the biology that underpins tumour cell survival in these hostile conditions, as well as uncover potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in head and neck cancer. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $13,432. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. UPR IN MPN ($159,999 – 2 years) 1119009 2019 Dr Maggie Kalev, Professor Stefan Bohlander, Dr Dean Singleton Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland This work focuses on patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Both are chronic but incurable blood cancers characterised by abnormal platelet counts in the blood and atypical platelet precursors in the bone marrow. While patients with ET have a near-normal life expectancy, survival of patients with PMF is significantly shorter. The reason for the difference is unclear, as both ET and PMF share the same driver mutations. We hypothesise that an adaptive pro-survival response in bone marrow cells determines the disease phenotype. Simply, driver mutations are damaging and cause cell “stress”. Cancer cells find ways to counteract the stress by recruiting certain pro-survival mechanisms, which allows driver mutations to cause the disease. As the pro-survival response strengthens, the disease becomes more damaging. We will use bone marrow samples from patients to identify pro-survival mechanisms recruited in ET and PMF. Findings will be correlated with patient diagnosis and driver mutations. Then, small molecules will be chosen to inhibit cell stress response in culture, with an idea that selected molecules may help restrict mutational effects. Our results will provide proof-of-concept evidence that drugs that inhibit cell stress response can help control disease manifestations in patients. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $17,932. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. ANTI-CATARACT NANOVESICLE DEVELOPMENT ($158,539 – 2 years) 1119015 2019 Dr Angus Grey, Professor Paul Donaldson, Dr Ilva Rupenthal, Associate Professor Zimei Wu Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland The number of people afflicted by cataracts is estimated to reach 30 million as the world’s population ages. Faced with a looming cataract epidemic, research has focused on developing anti-cataract therapies to prevent cataract and reduce the need for surgery. Since cataract is associated with decreased levels of antioxidants specifically in the lens centre, the use of dietary antioxidant supplements has been advocated as a therapeutic approach to slow cataract progression. However, studies into their efficacy are mixed due to an inability to target their delivery. Our research first addresses a fundamental question on how lens physiology and metabolism maintains tissue transparency, and lays the foundation to then pharmacologically harness lens physiology to deliver therapeutic molecules to specific regions of the aging lens to delay or prevent the onset of lens cataract. First we will assess our ability to pharmacologically stimulate the lens to deliver nutrients to the nucleus, before then packaging therapeutic molecules in nanovesicles to enable their delivery to the lens nucleus. This will determine whether we can enhance the lens antioxidant defence system and prevent or delay the onset of cataract, for which no preventative treatment currently exists. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $18,884. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. INVESTIGATION OF LENS PROTEIN FLEXIBILITY ($117,192 – 2 years) 1119018 2019 Dr Nicholas Demarais, Professor Paul Donaldson, Dr Angus Grey, Dr George Guo School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland The proteins in the center of your eye lens have been with you since you were born. Although these proteins are tough, they breakdown and change over their long lifetime. This change is necessary for normal eye function; however, it can also result in negative effects. On such outcome is presbyopia, which is the loss of near vision due to a stiffening of the lens. It is thought to be caused by accumulation of large, inflexible protein assemblies. In most, these collections of proteins are non-hazardous; however, under certain conditions they can cause the eye to become cloudy and form the disease cataract. How these proteins change their structure with age and position in the lens for positive and negative health outcomes is still unknown. Like a topographical map, this work will map the identity and structure of proteins directly from the lens to understand how they change with age and disease state. These results can be used to develop early detection schemes, and to help design the next generation of therapies to alleviate these diseases. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $12,338. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. MASTERSTROKE ($159,950 – 2 years) 2119013 2019 Dr Doug Campbell, Professor Tim Short, Dr Carolyn Deng, Professor Alan Barber, Professor Chris Frampton Department of Anaesthesia, Auckland District Health Board Stroke is the third most common cause of death in New Zealand and is one of the leading causes of long-term disability at all ages. A life-saving clot retrieval procedure can save the lives of patients who get to hospital within the first six hours of having an ischaemic stroke (caused by a blood clot). The clot can be removed using a mesh like retrieval device, freeing the clot from the brain. Getting a patient to hospital quickly following symptoms of a stroke can be life-saving with longer delays indicating poorer outcomes. In New Zealand, 90% of clot retrieval procedures are performed under general anaesthesia. Under anaesthesia during stroke, blood pressure (BP) management is critical. Many anaesthetic drugs can affect the blood flow within the brain. There is a possible mechanism of benefit from an increased BP target. A large randomized control trial is the only way to reliably investigate BP management during clot retrieval and further improve outcomes from stroke. PLACENTAL TOXIN IN PREECLAMPSIA ($159,998 – 2 years) 1119010 2019 Professor Larry Chamley, Dr Torsten Kleffmann, Dr Carolyn Barrett, Associate Professor Katie Groom, Dr Charlotte Oyston Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland Preeclampsia is a disease found only in pregnant women. A woman with a preeclamptic pregnancy has dangerously high blood pressure which results in damage to many of her organs and can potentially cause her death. The only way to prevent this, is to deliver the baby, often prematurely with long-term consequences for the baby. Mothers who have preeclamptic pregnancies also have long-term risk of heart disease and stroke. We do not know exactly what causes preeclampsia but we do know that toxins released from the placenta cause damage to mum’s blood vessels resulting in high blood pressure/preeclampsia. The nature of the placental toxins is not known, but we have shown that extracellular vesicles, tiny packages from the placenta, are different between preeclamptic and normal placentas and that preeclamptic vesicles are toxic to maternal blood vessels. Extracellular vesicles carry a large number of proteins that could be toxic but only a few of these have been identified. In this project we will use a newly developed technique to characterize all of the proteins in preeclamptic extracellular vesicles to see which are toxic. We will also give preeclamptic vesicles to pregnant mice to confirm that these vesicles cause high blood pressure/preeclampsia. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $16,908. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. NEUROCARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA MECHANISMS IN LQTS ($156,663 – 1.75 years) 1119006 2019 Dr Annika Winbo, Associate Professor Johanna Montgomery, Professor Jonathan Skinner Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland In this study we will use our combined expertise in clinical cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology and neurophysiology to perform novel research into the interactions between sympathetic neurons and heart cells in inherited arrhythmia syndromes. Specifically, we will focus on Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), the most common cause of sudden death in New Zealand youth. LQTS arrhythmias are typically triggered by the sympathetic “fight-or-flight” response. Treatment strategies including beta-blockers and sympathectomy (the surgical cutting of a sympathetic nerve to break the neuron-heart cell connection), although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Also, exactly how these sympathetic neurons cause cardiac arrhythmia in LQTS is unknown. Recent breakthroughs make it possible to model neuro-cardiac interactions in vitro. Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) that we have reprogrammed from LQTS patient and control blood, we will grow sympathetic neurons and heart cells together. These co-cultures will enable us to directly study the neuronal regulation of heart rate and action potential duration using cellular electrophysiology techniques, and find out what differs in the LQTS patient-derived cells that causes the arrhythmia. A better understanding of the underlying neurocardiac arrhythmia mechanisms could enable improved risk management, tailored therapies and new treatment targets for LQTS families. MIDODRINE TO PREVENT ORTHOSTATIC INTOLERANCE AFTER HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENTS ($159,132 – 2 years) 8119004 2019 Dr Michal Kluger, Ms Monica Skarin, Dr David Rice, Professor Peter McNair Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Waitemata District Health Board After a hip or knee joint replacement it is important to mobilise (get out of bed and move) early to recover faster, and reduce the risk of complications after surgery. Mobilisation can be hindered by orthostatic intolerance, described as the development of symptoms (dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, feeling of heat, and fainting) when standing upright. Orthostatic intolerance has been reported to happen in up to 60% of patients after surgery. Reasons include an inability of the peripheral blood vessels to constrict (tighten) properly in response to standing. Midodrine is a drug working by constricting the peripheral blood vessels, thereby improving blood pressure. This study aims to investigate if midodrine can reduce the occurrence of orthostatic intolerance after hip and knee joint replacements. One-hundred and seventy patients will be randomised to receive either midodrine or placebo in the early postoperative period. OI will be assessed on the day of surgery, and on the first day after surgery. Midodrine is effective in treating chronic orthostatic intolerance and we believe the administration will reduce the occurrence of orthostatic intolerance in patients after hip and knee joint replacements. This may lead to faster recovery and shorter stay in hospital. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $27,720. HYALURONAN SIGNALLING & OGD IN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN ($158,403 – 2 years) 1119005 2019 Dr Rashika Karunasinghe, Associate Professor Justin Dean, Professor Janusz Lipski Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Our ability to form memories and learn is fundamental to the way we experience life. These processes are coordinated by highly-specific and wire-like connections from neuron cells in the hippocampal region of the brain, which mostly develop before birth and during early childhood. However, these become disrupted in infants diagnosed with brain injury after low oxygen and glucose availability during birth. Survivors show abnormal neuron growth and activity (typified by seizures and learning problems), affecting brain functions throughout later life. However, scientists and clinicians are still challenged by why and how low oxygen and glucose affects neuronal development. We recently found that young neurons produce a key sugar called ‘hyaluronan’, which normally controls their growth. However, experimentally restricting brain blood flow, and thereby limiting oxygen and glucose supply, caused a loss of brain hyaluronan. We now propose that a loss of hyaluronan causes the abnormal neuronal development in young infants. The main objective of this study is to explore how abnormal levels of hyaluronan may alter hippocampal neuron development following a reduction in the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain. The ultimate goal is to explore whether hyaluronan can restore brain development in affected infants. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $15,484. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. CENTRAL CHEMOREFLEX IN HYPERTENSION ($159,215 – 1 year 9 months) 1119008 2019 Associate Professor James Fisher, Professor Julian Paton Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland One in three New Zealanders have high blood pressure, which can cause stroke, kidney and heart failure. Its asymptomatic characteristic means it can go undetected. More alarming is that half of those patients on medication do not have their blood pressure controlled suggesting that current medications are not effective. The proposed project will establish if the reason blood pressure goes up relates to changes in the detectors of carbon dioxide (CO2), a product of metabolism, in blood. These detectors are located in the carotid arteries and the brainstem and powerfully increase blood pressure when stimulated. Patients will be recruited from a recently formed high blood pressure network spanning five district health boards. In a brand new specialist Human Research Laboratory within the ADHB, we will determine whether CO2 detectors are sensitised in people with high blood pressure. We believe they are and that the detectors in the carotid artery are, in part, responsible for the sensitivity of brainstem CO2 detectors. Our findings may reveal a novel mechanism for why people become hypertensive. This information will be critical for developing new management strategies to control blood pressure using both repurposed drugs and medical devices, which may become available to us in due course. Each year the Foundation provides funding to support medical research projects for up to two years and a maximum of $180,000. The Foundation is committed to funding excellence and has an established policy of supporting emerging researchers.

Doctoral Scholarships Awarded Each year the Foundation provides funding to support for a PhD, MD or for a Master’s degree in biomedical, clinical or population health research. Apply now 2023 3 awards $447,000 2022 2 awards $298,000 2021 3 awards $393,000 2020 4 awards $380,000 2019 3 awards $274,000 HARNESSING SODIUM NITRITE TO ENHANCE COLLATERAL PERFUSION DURING ISCHEMIC STROKE ($149,000 – 3 years) 1223002 2023 Miss Sryana Sukhdev Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Stroke is a serious health concern in New Zealand, particularly among Māori and Pacific populations. Current treatment aims at restoring blood flow to the brain, but this requires specialist care which takes longer to access from rural regions. Given the higher number of Māori living in rural areas, inequitable access to treatment is likely to contribute to poorer outcomes seen in Māori stroke patients. Nitric oxide (NO) is commonly known for its vasodilatory effects, previous animal studies have shown its promise in restoring blood flow and improving outcomes following stroke, but its cost and specialised requirements limit its widespread use. As an alternative, we propose using nebulised sodium nitrite as a cost-effective means of delivering NO, which has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated by clinical populations, which we hypothesise will selectively improve collateral blood flow to stroke-affected areas. We propose preclinical studies to determine mechanism of benefit, and refine optimal timing and dosage and human studies of the cerebrovascular effects of sodium nitrite treatment in a 'stroke risk' cohort. We aim that our study will build evidence to support future clinical trials. Funded by: Gooduck Charitable Trust DEVELOPING A DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ON AWAITING PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT ($149,000 - 3 years) 12232003 2023 Miss Melody Kim Dept. of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland New Zealand is facing a wait-list crisis. Accessing mental health care has never been more challenging. This research proposal aims to develop scalable and effective interventions that can offer timely support to children, youth, and young adults (herein, young people) during their journey to receive psychological treatment. Recent studies have shown a significant increase in mental health distress among young individuals, particularly in the context of extended wait times for professional support. The challenges of accessing timely and appropriate mental health care have resulted in a perceived 'crisis' in the field, with young people facing the most extended wait times among all age groups. These prolonged waits have been linked to exacerbating distress levels, dissatisfaction, and lowered treatment efficacy. However, interventions and support have received limited attention during this specific waiting period. The proposed research comprises interlinked studies that will shed light on the experiences of mental health clinicians and young people during this critical waiting period which will then inform the development and adaptation of a wait-list-specific intervention. Armed with qualitative insights, a scalable, tailored digital intervention prototype will be carefully co-designed with key stakeholders. The research aims to bridge the existing gap in research and interventions, paving the way for more accessible and impactful mental health care for young people facing prolonged wait times. T CELL ACCUMULATION AND NEURONAL DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE ($149,000 – 3 years) 1223001 2023 Mr Luca Vinnell Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to motor impairments and cognitive decline. While traditionally considered a disease affecting neurons, emerging evidence suggests that immune cells, particularly T cells, infiltrate the brain of individuals with PD. The proposed project will explore the involvement of T cells in PD, with a focus on their detrimental impact on neuronal function. Under healthy conditions, neurons can use cytokines—molecules produced predominantly by immune cells— to talk to one another, and this communication is essential for survival. This project hypothesises that the infiltration of T cells into the brain creates a communication barrier between neurons. In this context, T cells interfere with the intricate language of neuronal signalling, disrupting normal cytokine mechanisms, by introducing their own cytokines into the neuronal dialogue. This disruption is believed to contribute to the progression of PD. Through a combination of disease models, and analysis of patient samples, I aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which T cells impact neuronal communication in PD. Understanding this holds significant promise for advancing our knowledge of the immune-neuronal interplay in PD, shedding light on the potential role of T cells in disease progression and offering new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Funded by: Gooduck Charitable Trust THE TAIL STRIATUM IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE ($149,000 – 3 years) 1222001 2022 Miss Bronwyn Riley Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Parkinson's disease is characterised by the death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain and affects 210 per 100,000 people in New Zealand. Although often considered a 'movement disorder', it involves non-movement symptoms including impaired sensory perception. 75% of Parkinson’s disease patients will experience visual or auditory hallucinations which are associated with cognitive decline and increased mortality. Although the mechanisms behind these symptoms are unclear, evidence supports the role of a recently recognised brain region, the tail striatum. Our lab group has worked to characterise aspects of the tail striatum, which is uniquely organised into subregions based on cell type. It functions in regulating how we experience and respond to sensory stimuli (e.g. visual objects and sounds). The level of dopamine in the tail striatum determines how responsive it is to sensory input. In Parkinson’s disease, dopamine is depleted. Therefore, neurons respond to input abnormally. In this project, I will determine how the response of tail striatum neurons to sensory input is altered by dopamine availability, whether this responsivity is different between subregions and whether the regions receive different sensory input. This will advance our understanding of the role of the tail striatum in non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. NOVEL MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DIABETIC CARDIOMYOPATHY ($149,000 - 3 years) 1222002 2022 Mr Samuel James Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland The aim of this PhD project is to investigate the causes of diabetic heart failure and identify novel treatment targets to test potential new therapies. My lab group has recently discovered that the way that the heart handles glucose sugar is different in diabetes. My study will fully characterise the disturbances in these molecular pathways using heart samples from a pre-clinical in vivo model of diabetes and using cultured heart cells. Gene therapy will be used to test the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in an in vivo model of type 2 diabetes. The overall goal is to generate new knowledge on the mechanisms of diabetic heart disease and to discover novel treatment options for a disease where there is currently no viable therapy. Funded by: Hugh Green Foundation A NOVEL BRAIN IMPLANT FOR PATIENTS WITH HYDROCHEPHALUS ($131,000 - 3 years) 1221005 2021 Dr Sang Ho Kim Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Imagine being a parent and told that your child has an abnormal build-up of fluid around the brain (hydrocephalus), which will require neurosurgery to install a tube (shunt) to drain the excess fluid. Initially, you are relieved that there is treatment, but you are told that there is a 60% chance the shunt will block within the first two years. The consequence of shunt blockage is a life-threatening increase in pressure inside the head. Frequent visits to the Emergency Department ensue as the signs of shunt failure are subtle and can look like the common cold. Shunt failure can only be confirmed with a brain scan. Thus, having a shunt means living in a perpetual state of anxiety, not knowing when it will fail, and being exposed to radiation every time it is suspected. A team of engineers, neurosurgeons, and I want to remove that stress, unnecessary radiation exposure, and the likelihood of missing shunt malfunction by developing a tiny brain implant that senses and wirelessly transmits pressure measurements inside a person’s head. My project is to prove our implant is safe and suitable for the intended purpose, culminating in a first-in-human safety study. PANCREATIC EXOCRINE INSUFFICIENCY: ADVANCING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT ($131,000 – 3 years) 1221001 2021 Mrs Kylie Russell Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) occurs when the quantity of digestive enzymes released into the small bowel is insufficient to ensure normal absorption of food. If PEI is untreated, it results in micronutrient deficiency, malnutrition, poor quality of life and reduced survival. PEI develops in 56–98% of patients following surgical resection of the pancreas (pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)). PD is the only potentially curative treatment for head of pancreas cancer, other cancers (ampullary, bile duct and small bowel cancers), chronic pancreatitis and other non-cancerous tumours of the pancreas. The foundation of treatment for PEI is pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT); however, patients are undertreated and guidelines regarding when and what dose to commence PERT are conflicting. An international survey regarding current prescribing of PERT in patients following PD will be used to develop an education module for practitioners to address gaps in knowledge. A randomised controlled trial will establish a) whether pre-emptive, routine, treatment with PERT post PD improves nutritional status and quality of life, and b) which dose (low vs high) provides maximal benefit. The project will determine the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency post PD, which is currently unknown, and develop guidelines for clinicians regarding screening and treatment protocols. The project will also test the safety of administering PERT in patients with a compromised gut through a rodent model of PD. IDENTIFYING THERAPEUTIC TARGETS AND BIOMARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTINCT ALPHA-SYNUCLEIN POLYMORPHS ($131,000 - 3 years) 1221004 2021 Mr Kreesan Reddy Dept. of Anatomy & Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland Synucleinopathies are a collective of neurodegenerative diseases characterised by lesions of misfolded α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most well known synucleinopathy affecting an estimated 10 million worldwide. It is presently the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease, with the number of patients doubling from 2.6 to 6.3 million between 1990 and 2016. Multiple System Atrophy is a less common disease that presents remarkably similar to PD in the clinic. As such, approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with PD are found to have MSA upon autopsy, with the converse occurring in patients diagnosed with MSA. At present, there are no biomarkers or disease-modifying treatments for PD and MSA. Current treatments address symptoms of disease, eventually becoming ineffective in the late stages of disease. It is thought that the shortcomings of these treatments are based on their use after significant neurological damage has occurred. The project aims to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets that enable the distinction and treatment of specific synucleinopathies early in the disease. It is estimated that delaying the onset of neurodegenerative disorders by one year can reduce the number of cases by 11%; therefore, providing new therapeutic targets and biomarkers may help reduce disease burden in the future. THE ROLE OF HYALUONAN IN HIPPOCAMPAL NEURON DEVELOPMENT ($27,000 – 8 months) 1218004 EXTENSION 2020 Molly Abraham Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland The growth and connectivity of brain cells (neurons) is critical for normal brain development and function. Alterations to the normal development of these cells can disrupt their ability to form connections and create neural networks. Deficits in neuronal connectivity are observed in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and can induce impairments in learning and memory. However, there is limited progress in the treatment of such disorders, as the mechanisms underlying neuronal developmental and connectivity in the normal brain remain unclear. Hyaluronan is a sugar molecule expressed throughout the body and brain, which has been shown to support non-neural cell development. Evidence suggests that this sugar is expressed in the developing brain, however its specific role in brain cell development is unknown. Thus, this research will provide a novel insight into the role of hyaluronan in normal brain function, and whether disruption of hyaluronan and the extracellular matrix contributes to various neurodevelopmental disorders. Further, this study will provide information on whether targeting hyaluronan disruption is a potential therapeutic strategy to promote normal brain function. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $3,574. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. AN IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO TREATING COGNITIVE DECLINE IN AGING ($131,000 - 3 years) 1220007 2020 Mr Conor Nelson Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland As the aged population continues to grow, new therapies are needed to prevent the predicted escalation in the number of people affected by age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Our lab has developed an antibody-based immunotherapy targeting the GluN1 subunit of NMDA glutamate receptors. These receptors are believed to be essential to the process of learning and memory, and we have previously demonstrated that treatment with these antibodies has neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties in rodent models. This project takes the next step towards the development of a GluN1 antibody therapy suitable for human use. We will determine whether site-specific monoclonal GluN1 antibodies are as effective at boosting learning and memory function as our current GluN1 antibody therapy, as the predictable binding behavior of monoclonal antibodies makes them safer for clinical use. Additionally, we will be investigating whether the ability of anti-GluN1 antibodies to selectively alter signalling at NMDA receptors is able to modify the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in a transgenic mouse model. If these experiments prove to be successful, these results will contribute to the development of a new class of therapies for improving cognitive function and increasing the brain’s resilience to neurodegenerative disease. Funded by: Gooduck Charitable Trust MODELLING NEWBORN CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT ($106,000 – 2 years 6 months) 1220006 2020 Dr Robyn May Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland Preterm birth (defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation) is a global burden, with over 15 million babies born prematurely each year. Babies born early are at greater risk of a range of short-term and long-term problems, including a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult life. Several mechanisms linking preterm birth to the onset of CVD later in adulthood have been suggested, however, uncertainty remains about the physiological mechanism by which preterm birth is related to poor cardiovascular outcomes later in life. This project aims to address this knowledge gap using computational modelling. Computational modelling is a type of mathematical modelling that studies the behaviour of a complex system using computer simulations. In this project, we will collect data on the heart and blood vessels of newborns and develop a computational model of the cardiovascular system for both term and preterm babies and compare them to identify differences in cardiovascular physiology between newborns of different gestational ages that may predispose preterm babies to greater cardiovascular risk later in life. The findings of this project may contribute to future clinical studies that may be able to reduce these CVD risk factors for babies born early. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,125. Funded by: Curtis-Tonkin Paediatric Fund MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AND VACCINATION BEHAVIOURS IN AOTEAROA ($116,000 - 3 years) 1220004 2020 Ms Sarah Kember School of Psychology, Massey University Over the past two centuries, vaccines have revolutionised human health, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic a grim illustration of the dangers of uncontrolled disease. To achieve population immunity through vaccination, however, a large number of people must be vaccinated. In New Zealand, rates remain consistently lower than necessary for population immunity. Understanding drivers for low uptake is complex, but crucial to population health. One plausible cause is anxiety and depression in pregnant women and new mothers. Studies have found a strong link between psychological distress and decision-making challenges. Yet it is during the very period when 10-20% of pregnant women and new mothers experience anxiety or depression that 7 of the 15 childhood vaccines are due. Despite good reason to believe that poor mental health in pregnancy and postnatally increases the risk of missed vaccines, experimental techniques manipulating distress level, are ethically impossible. Massey University researchers will therefore test the hypothesis using sophisticated statistical analytic techniques. The study will contribute important knowledge for future interventions to increase vaccination rates by improving maternal mental health. Given misinformation circulating about vaccines and disruptions to routine immunisation programmes due to COVID-19, the need for current and relevant research has never been more pressing. Funded by: John Jarrett Trust TROPHOBLAST STEM CELLS AND FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION ($128,000 – 3 years) 1219006 2019 Cherry Sun Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland The placenta mediates nutrient exchange between mum and baby, and its ability to do this depends on specialised placental cells called trophoblasts. Aberrant placentation and trophoblast differentiation/function are major contributors to diseases of pregnancy such as fetal growth restriction (FGR). FGR remains an important problem it has no effective treatment, in part because we do not understand why it occurs. The James lab has developed a new method to isolate trophoblast stem cells (TSC, from which all mature trophoblasts arise) directly from the placenta without culture, and this has allowed the isolation of TSCs from term placentae for the first time. This is critical to understand how TSCs contribute to pregnancy pathologies, which can only be detected clinically in late pregnancy. Isolating TSCs from normal and FGR placentae has revealed that this population are significantly (10-fold) depleted in FGR placentae, and gene expression studies suggest this is a result of reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death. This project aims to understand how functional differences in the proliferation, death, and differentiation of TSCs may contribute to the pathophysiology of FGR. This will allow us to identify potential therapeutic targets to improve the function of FGR placentae in the future. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $7,000. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. RURAL: REGIONAL VS URBAN RISK OF APPENDICITIS COMPLICATIONS ($18,000 – 1 year) 1218003 2019 Dr Brodie Elliot Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland & Northland District Health Board Appendicitis is the most common and costly emergency general surgical disease that affects children. International studies have shown that rural patients are more likely to have poorer outcomes of appendicitis. This results in distress and harm for children and their families in the form of pain, increased stay in hospital, and need for repeat invasive procedures. Despite a quarter of New Zealanders living in a rural or small center, no study has investigated whether this problem exists here. We will first interview the families of children who have undergone an emergency appendicectomy and study any common themes that prevent rural families from accessing surgical care. Using this information we will then investigate the presentation and outcomes of all children who undergo surgery for appendicitis, nationally. This research will be used to identify any common barriers faced by rural families in accessing acute paediatric surgical care and whether surgical outcomes of appendicitis are worse for children of rural families on a national scale. This will act as a platform to guide public health improvement efforts, improve rural access to healthcare and reduce the impact of this common disease on the New Zealand’s children. PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR SIGNALLING IN PATIENT-DERIVED BRAIN CELLS ($128,000 – 3 years) 1219004 2019 Susan Li Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen involved in the proliferation, migration and survival of cells, with its effect mediated via the activation of its receptors, PDGFRα and PDGFRβ, and subsequent signalling pathway. Studies have revealed evidence of its involvement in the maintenance of blood-brain barrier integrity by promoting proliferation and survival of pericytes, a mural cell type critical to vascular function. The PDGF receptors are also found in glioma cells, playing a role in tumour development and progression, especially in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most common and malignant primary brain tumour. Preliminary data from our lab show that both pericytes and glioma cells abundantly express the PDGF receptors and have distinct signalling properties. This project aims to thoroughly characterise the PDGF signalling pathway, with emphasis on brain pericytes and GBM glioma cells. Funded by: The Edith Rose Isaacs Estate

Other Grants AMRF offers a number of funding programmes to support researchers, small projects, publications costs, and more. Read more on the How to Apply page. Apply now CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY/PHARMACOMETRICS TRAINING AND RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP 2024 Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship Dr James Morse ($17,499 - 1724002) Dept. of Anaesthesiology, The University of Auckland ​ VISIT OF PROF RAINA FICHOROVA TO THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND AND BI-DIRECTIONAL RESEARCH EXCHANGE 2024 Sir Harcourt Caughey Award Dr Augusto Simoes-Barbosa ($18,656 - 1724001) School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland ​ FELLOWSHIP TO COMPLETE A MASTER'S DEGRESS IN PRACTICAL ETHICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, UK 2024 Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship Dr Marta Seretny ($47,688 - 1724003) Dept. of Anaesthesiology, The University of Auckland ​ PHYSIOLOGIC RESERVE AND EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY 2023 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-Up Awards Dr Brittany Park ($30,000 - 1723003) Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland Research support for her Douglas Goodfellow Medical Research Fellowship A CELL-BASED PLATFORM FOR STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF ULTRASOUND ON NEURONS FOLLOWING STRETCH RESEARCH 2023 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Ederlyn Perolina ($2,000 - 6723005) School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Poster Presentation Award PLACENTAL EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES PROVIDE TRANSIENT PROTECTION AGAINST CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE DEVELOPMENT IN RODENTS 2023 Summit Postdoctoral Research Presentation Award Dr Sien Yee Lau Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Research Presentation Award INTER-TISSUE ANTIOXIDANT EXCHANGE IN THE EYE 2023 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Research Start-Up Awards Dr Renita Martis ($30,000 – 1723002) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Research support for her AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship NOVEL GENERATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL BRAIN SPHEROIDS USING DIRECT CELL REPROGRAMMING 2023 Healthex Emerging Research Awards Jess Kelly ($3,000 - 6723004) Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland AMRF Oustanding Emerging Researcher Award SUPPORT FOR THE 49TH ANNUAL FETAL AND NEONATAL PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING'S PLENARY LECTURE SPEAKER, PROF FRANCES NORTHINGTON FROM JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY 2023 Sir Douglas Robb Memorial Fund Dr Kelly Zhou ($2,907 - 1723004) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland ​ TREATING IMPETIGO WITH ANTISEPTICS, REPLACING ANTIBIOTICS (TIARA): A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRAIL COMPARING TOPICAL IMPETIGO TREATMENTS 2023 Healthex Emerging Research Awards Dr Sarah Primhak ($2,000 - 6723005) Dept. of Paediatrics: Child and Young Health, The University of Auckland AMRF Doctoral Oral Presentation Runner Up Award CHANGES IN HOSPITAL ADMISSION FOR STROKE: FINDINGS FROM THE ARCOS STUDIES (1981-2022) 2023 AMRF Support of the 2023 Te Whatu Ora Waitematā Collaborative Research Symposium Prof Rita Krishnamurthi ($500 - 6723002) Naitonal Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology AMRF Best Senior Researcher A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM AT ADULT ED TRIAGE FOR PREDICTING HEALTH OUTCOMES 2023 AMRF Support of the 2023 Te Whatu Ora Waitematā Collaborative Research Symposium Dr Zhenqiang Wu ($1,000 - 6722006) Department of Geriatric Medicine, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Emerging Researcher VISIT OF ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER MORAES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, MCGILL UNIVERSITY, CANADA, TO THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH 2023 Sir Harcourt Caughey Award Dr Joanna James ($11,664 - 1723001) Dept. Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland ​ TO DEVELOP EXPERTISE IN FLUID BIOMARKERS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES THROUGH OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE AND COLLABORATION 2022 Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship Dr Erin Cawston ($27,044 - 1722006) Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland ​ DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF SLOW REWARMING AFTER THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA FOR CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA IN NEAR-TERM FETAL SHEEP 2022 HealtheX Emerging Researcher Awards Alice McDouall ($2,000 - 6722002) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland AMRF Doctoral Oral Presentation Runner Up Award THE USE OF OPTICAL COHERENECE TOMOGRAPHY TO VISUALIZE THE INNER EAR 2022 HealtheX Emerging Researcher Awards Vanshika Chinchalkar ($2,000 - 6722003) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Poster Presentation Award UNRAVELLING MECHANISMS OF LEADING CAUSES OF BLINDNESS AND CATARACT AND MYOPIA USING THE POWER OF ZEBRAFISH 2022 Sir Harcourt Caughey Award Dr Irene Vorontsova ($25,000 - 1722004) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland ​ SUPPORT FOR THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND PLACENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (ANZPRA) SATELLITE MEETING 2022 Sir Douglas Robb Memorial Fund Dr Joanna James ($1,394 - 1722002) Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Auckland ​ TAIOHI AND WHĀNAU HĪKOI FROM THE COMMUNITY INTO ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS: A KAUPAPA MĀORI STUDY 2022 AMRF support of the Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Research Week Debra Gerrard ($1,000 - 6722005) Nursing, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Best Oral Presentation Award in Māori Health Research at the 2022 Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Research Week PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: TO DISCOVER POTENTIAL NEW THERAPIES FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2022 Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust Award Dr Peter Freestone ($130,000 – 1722001) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland One Year Extension to the Davis and Carr Senior Research Fellowship awarded in 2020. EFFECT OF MITOTEMPO, A MITOCHONDRIA-TARGETED ANTIOXIDANT, IN PROTECTING AGAINST AGE-RELATED SENSORY HAIR CELL DEGENERATION AND HEARING LOSS IN MICE 2022 Sir Harcourt Caughey Award Dr Winston Tan ($25,000 - 1722003) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland ​ BRAIN TEMPERATURE AS A MEASURE OF NEUROINFLAMMATION: ASSESSMENT USING WHOLE-BRAIN MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2022 HealtheX Emerging Researcher Awards Julia Plank ($3,000 - 6722001) School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland AMRF Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award INHIBITING THE NLRP3 INFLAMMASOME PATHWAY PREVENTING AGE-REGLATED COGNITIVE AND RETINAL DECLINE 2022 Summit Postdoctoral Research Presentation Award Dr Lola Mugisho ($3,000 - 6722004) Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Research Presentation Award DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED 3D MODEL OF BEAST CANCER USING TUMOUR ORGANOIDS 2022 Kelliher Charitable Trust Award Dr Emma Nolan ($30,000 - 1722005) Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Research support for the Douglas Goodfellow Repatriation Fellowship ACHIEVING PAE ORA FOR CHILDREN SURVIVING INJURY: A CALL TO ACTION 2022 AMRF Support of the Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Research Week Elaijah Tuivaiti and Hemi Young ($1,000 - 6722006) Kidz First Hospital, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Best Oral Presentation Award in Population Health at the 2022 Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Research Week HOW DO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NEGOTIATE ROLES IN ASTHMA SELF-MANAGEMENT? 2021 Sir Harcourt Caughey Award Dr Julie Spray ($25,000 - 1721004) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Asthma affects one in seven New Zealand children, and is a leading cause of hospital admissions. Since the 1990s, New Zealand’s policy approach to managing asthma has been “self-management,” where in theory, adult patients and caregivers receive the tools, training, and guidance to manage their own or their child’s illness. But, self-management approaches were designed with an autonomous and responsible adult in mind, meaning that children’s roles in their own asthma management have been glossed over in guidelines. Yet children must and do play critical roles in their asthma management. Children must learn to recognise their symptoms and decide which of many possible actions to take (notifying adults, self-administering medication, trying alternative techniques). Studies have shown that caregivers are delegating responsibilities for asthma to children from a young age, especially in adverse circumstances where parents are overburdened with work or other caregiving needs. How, then, do families and children negotiate children’s roles and responsibilities for asthma management? Through interviews and child-friendly research activities, this study will investigate how families and children negotiate asthma management, how children would like to participate in their health care, and how clinical approaches and guidelines might better support children’s inclusion. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $2,467. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. TWIST 3: VALIDATION OF THE TIME TO WALKING INDEPENDENTLY AFTER STROKE TOOL 2021 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-Up Awards Dr Marie-Claire Smith ($14,690 - 1721002) Dept. of Medicine, The University of Auckland Research support for her Postdoctoral Fellowship NEW INSIGHTS INTO PRESBYOPIA - DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A SPIN TEST DEVICE TO MEASURE REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN LENS STIFFNESS 2021 Sir Harcourt Caughey Award Dr Chen (Peter) Qiu ($24,971 - 1722001) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Our ability to focus on near and far objects, known as accommodation, is a direct result of the biomechanical properties of the lens. However, as we age, the lens becomes stiffer and by middle-age, we lose our ability to accommodate (presbyopia) and require reading glasses to focus on nearby objects. Other researchers have used a system that spins the lens to induce deformation of the lens and together with image processing and computer modelling then extract regional differences in lens stiffness that occur with age. However, how this increase in lens stiffness occurs is still currently unknown. This proposal intends to set up a spin test system in Auckland to allow us to test our hypothesis that the increase in lens stiffness is due to a loss in the ability of the lens to regulate its internal water content. If correct, it may prove possible to pharmacologically modulate lens water transport and reduce lens stiffness, thereby restoring the accommodative ability of the lens and reduce the need for reading glasses. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $5,130. NEEDLE-FREE CAPILLARY BLOOD SAMPLING USING JET INJECTION 2021 Summit Postdoctoral Research Presentation Award Dr James McKeage ($3,000 - 6721003) Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Research Presentation Award MULTI-OMICS AND BIOMARKERS TO PERSONALISE RISK PREDICTION AND THERAPY IN ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES 2021 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-Up Awards Dr Nikki Earle ($30,000 - 1721003) Dept. of Medicine, The University of Auckland Research support for her Postdoctoral Fellowship DEVELOPMENT OF A PHARMACIST-FACILITATED MEDICINES REVIEW INTERVENTION FOR COMMUNITY-DWELLING MĀORI OLDER ADULTS IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND 2021 AMRF Support of the Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Awards Dr Joanna Hikaka ($500 - 6721002) School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Excellence in Research Award - Best Emerging Researcher at the 2021 Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Awards MĀORI PERSPECTIVES ON A POTENTIAL LUNG CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMME 2021 AMRF Support of the Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Awards Dr Karen Bartholemew ($500 - 6721001) Planning Funding and Outcomes, Waitematā District Health Board; Auckland District Health Board Excellence in Research Award - Best Senior Researcher at the 2021 Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Awards PROBING THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF SKIN WITH LASERS, LIGHT SCATTERING AND MOLECULAR IONISATION 2020 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-up Awards Dr Hannah Holtkamp ($30,000 - 1720012) Photon Factory, School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Research support for her Postdoctoral Fellowship PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: TO DISCOVER POTENTIAL NEW THERAPIES FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2020 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-up Awards Dr Peter Freestone ($30,000 – 1720011) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Research support for his Davis & Carr Senior Research Fellowship VALIDATING NEUROIMAGING TO DETECT NEUROINFLAMMATION IN VIVO 2020 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Ms Julia Plank ($2,000 - 6720002) School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland AMRF Doctoral Oral Presentation Runner up Award FUNGAL NATURAL PRODUCTS AS A SOURCE OF NOVEL ANTIBIOTICS 2020 Sir Douglas Robb Memorial Fund Dr Melissa Cadelis ($2,000 - 1720004) Dept. of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, The University of Auckland ​ EARLY CHANGES IN FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA 2020 Kelliher Charitable Trust - Fellowship Exension Dr Brigid Ryan ($106,199 – 1720017) Dept. of Anatomy & Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland One year extension of her Edith C. Coan Posdoctoral Fellowship In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $13,431. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. PARTICIPATION IN THE GLOBAL CLINICAL SCHOLARS RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM OF ADVANCED TRAINING IN HEALTH CARE RESEARCH AND METHODS 2020 Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship Dr Michael Collins ($32,416 - 2720001) Dept. of Renal Medicine, Auckland District Health Board Harvard Medical School, USA, June 2020-May 2021 REHABILITATION FOLLOWING FLEXOR POLLICIS LONGUS (FPL) TENDON REPAIR: A PILOT STUDY COMPARING EARLY ACTIVE MOBILISATION (EAM) WITH IMMOBILISATION (IM) 2020 AMRF Support of the Counties Manukau DHB Research Week Ms Elaine Duguid ($1,000 - 6720004) Physiotherapy, Tamaki Hands, Counties Manukau District Health Board Best Overall Student/Emerging Researcher Award at the 2020 Counties Manukau DHB Research Week SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND PLACENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION SATELLITE MEETING 2020 Sir Douglas Robb Memorial Fund Dr Joanna James ($1,072 - 1720002) Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland ​ HEART RATE SENSITIVITY EVALUATION OF A 3D AMPLIFIED-MRI METHOD TO REVEAL SUBTLE BRAIN BIOMECHANICS AND PATHOLOGIES 2020 Sir Douglas Robb Memorial Fund Dr Eryn Kwon ($1,875 - 1720003) Dept. of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland ​ BLINKING, CLINICAL MARKERS AND SYMPTOMS OF DRY EYE DISEASE, AND SCREEN USE HABITS OF YOUNG ATTENDEES OF A GAMING CONVENTION IN AUCKLAND, NZ 2020 Summit Postdoctoral Research Presentation Award Dr Alex Muntz ($3,000 - 6720005) Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckalnd AMRF Best Research Presentation Award Funded by: Wellington Sisters Charitable Trust UNDERSTANDING OBESITY'S HARMFUL EFFECTS ON TENDON HEALING IN A RAT ROTATOR CUFF TEAR MODEL 2020 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Dr Scott Bolam ($3,000 - 6720001) Liggins Institute, University of Auckland AMRF Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award Funded by: Wellington Sisters Charitable Trust TONABERSAT IS NEUROPROTECTIVE AFTER HYPOXIA-ISCHAEMIA IN NEONATAL RATS 2020 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Miss Alice McDouall ($2,000 - 6720003) School of Medical Science, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Poster Presentation Award THE REAL COSTS OF SWALLOWING COMPLAINTS IN A PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM 2019 AMRF Support of the Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Awards Dr Jacqueline Allen ($500 - 67919005) Otolaryngology, North Shore Hospital, Waitematā District Health Board Best Oral Presentation (Research) Award at the 2019 Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Award ECHO ZONE ROTORUA 2019 Sir Harcourt Caughey Awards Professor Frank Bloomfield ($13,983 - 1719004) Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland One of the most comprehensive health challenges facing New Zealand is childhood overweight. The Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, together with Uppsala University is about to implement a new strategy to prevent childhood obesity called the ECHO zone - after the World Health Organisation report "Ending ChildHood Obesity" in which NZ played a leading role. In ECHO zones changes in society are made so that the children's immediate environment is adapted to make healthy choices. This requires long-term involvement of several stakeholders implementing the changes together. Through ongoing collection of data on how the children's health is affected by changes in environmental factors around the children, an ECHO zone builds scientific evidence for which societal changes that effectively and permanently reduce the risk of obesity and obesity. Professor Peter Bergsten is a leading exponent of the ECHO zone concept and will work with the Liggins Institute and the local community to develop an ECHO zone in Rotorua. TO DEVELOP AN AUCKLAND-BASED RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN MRI-GUIDED RADIOTHERAPY PLANNING THROUGH OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE AND COLLABORATION 2019 Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship Dr Beau Pontre ($44,360 - 1719003) Dept. of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, The University of Auckland Radiation therapy is an essential tool in the treatment of cancer. It is used to selectively treat cancer tissues without the need for surgery. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a key role in ensuring the radiation accurately and reliably treats cancer while reducing harm to healthy tissues. Aside from the improvements in accuracy, the combination of MRI and radiotherapy opens up possibilities for treatments that weren’t previously feasible, including targeted treatment of the heart. There is a growing interest internationally in research around the technologies behind MRI-guided radiotherapy, but the expertise in New Zealand is limited. The travel proposed for this fellowship will develop important collaborations and research experience with internationally-recognised experts in Europe, and will help to start a larger New Zealand based research programme. This new and exciting programme will build on the expertise of researchers, clinicians, and other radiotherapy experts, leading to important advances in technology. In future, these advances will lead to improved treatment options for those New Zealanders undergoing radiation therapy. A NOVEL PEPTIDE DELIVERY PLATFORM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUCOSAL VACCINES 2019 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-Up Awards Dr Jia-Yun (Catherine) Tsai ($30,000 - 1719002) Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland Research support for her Postdoctoral Fellowship ULTRASOUND IN ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERURICEMIA 2019 Kelliher Charitable Trust Emerging Researcher Start-Up Awards Dr Sarah Stewart ($30,000 - 1719001) Dept. of Medicine, The University of Auckland Research support for her Postdoctoral Fellowship RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS FROM THE PERIOPRATIVE DIRECTORATE 2019 AMRF Support of the Auckland DHB Research Poster Week Dr Douglas Campbell ($1,000 - 6719007) Dept. of Anaesthesia, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland District Health Board AMRF Best Directorate Award at the 2019 Auckland DHB Research Poster Week ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MATERNAL DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AND CHILD TELOMERE LENGTH: EVIDENCE FROM GROWING UP IN NEW ZEALAND 2019 Summit Postdoctoral Research Presentation Award Dr Marie-Claire Smith ($3,000 - 6719001) Centre for Longitudinal Research, The University of Auckland To attend a conference to present her research. EFFECTS OF ARTIFICAL SWEETENERS IN THE MATERNAL DIET ON OFFSPRING HEALTH 2019 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Miss Pania Bridge-Comer ($3,000 - 6719002) Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland AMRF Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award Funded by: Wellington Sisters Charitable Trust THE GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS ANTIGEN SPNA, COMBINED WITH BEAD-BASED IMMUNOASSAY TECHNOLOGY, IMPROVES STREPTOCOCCAL SEROLOGY 2019 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Miss Alana Whitcombe ($2,000 - 6719003) Dept. of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland AMRF Doctoral Oral Presentation Runner Up Funded by: Wellington Sisters Charitable Trust THE ROLE OF HYALURONAN IN DEVELOPING HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONS 2019 Healthex Emerging Researcher Awards Miss Molly Abraham ($2,000 - 6719004) Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland AMRF Best Poster Presentation Award WDHB SKIN SERVICE: GP SURGEON SCHEME (GPSI), AN EFFECTIVE MODEL OF CARE 2019 AMRF Support of the Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Awards Mr Daniel Wen ($500 - 6719006) School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland Emerging Researcher Award at the 2019 Waitematā DHB Health Excellence Award

Fellowships Awarded The AMRF has several categories of fellowships. The Douglas Goodfellow Repatriation Fellowship assists an established researcher in medical or health research to return to New Zealand to further their career at an institution in the Auckland/Northland area. AMRF postdoctoral fellowships provide two years support for graduates who have recently completed a degree at doctorate level and who propose to pursue a career in medical research. The Ruth Spencer and the Douglas Goodfellow Medical Research Fellowships provide support for medical graduates who wish to undertake full-time medical research for a PhD or MD. The J.I Sutherland ​Medical Research Fellowship provides support for science or medical graduates who wish to undertake full-time medical research for a PhD or MD in the field of melanoma or other skin cancers. Apply now 2021 5 awards $1,229,465 2020 4 awards $712,131 2019 2 awards $200,306 2022 2 awards $535,396 2023 4 awards $1,082,392 Douglas Goodfellow Repatriation Fellowship OBESITY AND BREAST CANCER: A NOVEL 3D ORGANOID MODEL TO STUDY CANCER-ADIPOCYTE CROSSTALK ($221,964 - 1 year) 1421001-1 (One year extension of 2021 grant 1421001) 2023 Dr Emma Nolan Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Obesity is a growing global crisis and has been linked to significantly worse outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer. Breast tumours grow in an environment enriched in fat (adipose) cells, which have been recently shown to interact with cancer cells and boost their growth. However, due to a lack of laboratory models that can successfully mimic the interaction between cancer cells and adipose cells in the breast, the specific role that obesity plays in this relationship remains unclear. To address this question, this study will generate human breast ‘Organoids’ from tumours donated by patients with breast cancer, which are 3D clusters of tumour cells that highly resemble the tumour from which they are derived. These Organoids, or ‘mini-tumours in a dish’, will be grown in the presence of human breast adipose cells to understand how cancer behaviour differs between obese and lean patients. This innovative model could assist in the identification of new drug targets to combat adipose-driven cancer growth, offering a specialised therapy for breast cancer patients at risk of adipose-mediated effects. The Organoids are also themselves a valuable new tool for cancer researchers in New Zealand, and could enhance the clinical translation of research discoveries in our country. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF CATAMENIAL EPILEPSY ($264,233 - 2 years) 1323002 2023 Dr Rachael Sumner School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland Epilepsy is one of the most common and debilitating neurological conditions in the world, affecting 1-2% of the population. For 40% of women with epilepsy, their menstrual cycle will worsen their seizures; they will experience at least twice as many seizures as they ordinarily would, and the seizures may be more severe than usual. This worsening occurs at specific phases of their menstrual cycle and is called catamenial epilepsy. Catamenial epilepsy seizures frequently cannot be treated with available medicines. The exact mechanism is unknown but it is likely to involve how the brain responds to hormones and changes its sensitivity. Finding mechanisms that explain catamenial seizures and are potential targets for new treatments is essential. This fellowship is focused on finding the mechanism. We are running a study recruiting females with epilepsy who have catamenial seizures. We are comparing the findings with females who do not have seizure changes. We are testing how their brain changed over the menstrual cycle. We will also give common hormone medications to volunteer females to test changes to hormone sensitivity at different points of their menstrual cycle. For all participants we will record their brain waves (using electroencephalography) and take blood samples to test hormone levels. AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship A PROMISING COMBINATION THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ($282,195 - 2 years) 1323001 2023 Dr Odunayo (Lola) Mugisho Dept. of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland Dementia is a pressing issue among the elderly, expected to double from 2015 to 2050, affecting approximately 10% of those aged 65 and over. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common form of dementia characterised by amyloid-beta accumulation in the brain. Despite two FDA-approved treatments targeting amyloid-beta, their limited effectiveness and severe side effects highlight the need for alternative approaches. Recent interest has focused on "inflammaging," age-related inflammation. Research has shown that the inflammasome pathway controls inflammaging and is implicated in age-related diseases like AD, making it a potential target for innovative treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. For eight years, my research team has studied the inflammasome pathway in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. We found that anti-inflammasome drugs like Peptide5 and Tonabersat, protect against age-related eye and brain pathologies by reducing inflammation. However, I hypothesise that a combination of Tonabersat and Lecanemab will be the most effective approach, as Lecanemab reduces amyloid-beta levels, but cannot halt the activated inflammasome pathway during inflammaging, necessitating additional Tonabersat to reduce inflammation and halt disease progression. This research project therefore aims to assess the safety and efficacy of a combination therapy for AD treatment, utilising cell culture and mouse models. Douglas Goodfellow Medical Research Fellowship GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS IN NEW ZEALAND ($314,000- 3 years) 1423001 2023 Dr Lisa Douglas Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition of high blood sugar levels first detected during pregnancy, affecting one in every eight pregnancies. In Auckland, rates have tripled over the past 15 years. GDM increases the risk of health problems in both mother and baby both during pregnancy and in the years following and contributes to health inequality over generations. I am an advanced trainee in Endocrinology with a special interest in GDM. I plan a series of studies examining how blood sugar control during a GDM pregnancy impacts outcomes 4.5 years later for both mother and child. For the mother I will investigate her sugar control, body size, diet and physical activity and overall wellbeing, and for her child I will investigate body size and behavioural and developmental outcomes using specialised questionnaires. I will also examine the effects of adherence to the recommended targets for blood sugar control, and to recommended diabetes screening follow-up after GDM, and which women are most at risk of not achieving these. This work will help to identify where interventions might be directed and guide the best use of limited health resource to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities after GDM in the future. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship INTER-TISSUE ANTIOXIDANT EXCHANGE IN THE EYE ($221,396 - 2 years) 1322001 2022 Dr Renita Martis Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland With an increasing ageing and diabetic population, the number of New Zealanders with eye diseases requiring surgery is increasing. Two common ocular surgeries performed in NZ are cataract surgery, in which the cloudy lens is replaced by an artificial one, and vitrectomy in which the vitreous humour, a clear gel-like fluid that fills the back of the eye, is removed and replaced with a saline solution. Strong clinical evidence demonstrates that removal of the lens or vitreous accelerates the progression of secondary eye diseases, resulting in the need for further surgery within 2-5 years. With our hospital resources already stretched, the treatment of secondary eye diseases places additional strain on our hospitals. In the absence of preventative treatments, there is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms that result in diseases following the removal of the lens or vitreous. We propose that the lens and vitreous work together to maintain the high concentrations of antioxidants in the eye that lower the oxygen levels and protect the lens and vitreous from secondary degeneration. To investigate the molecular mechanisms, this study will investigate antioxidant changes to the lens and vitreous post-surgery. The knowledge gained from this project will help us discover effective antioxidant supplementation strategies that minimise oxidative stress, restore antioxidant homeostasis, and maintain ocular health post-surgery. Such therapeutic strategies are urgently required to address the looming epidemic of diabetic and age-related eye disease. Douglas Goodfellow Medical Research Fellowship PHYSIOLOGIC RESERVE AND EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY ($314,000- 3 years) 1422001 2022 Dr Brittany Park Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland In Aotearoa and worldwide, there are an increasing number of older patients requiring emergency laparotomy (EL). EL has high rates of morbidity and mortality, with inequitable outcomes for Māori. Older patients have increased risk of both presenting acutely with a diagnosis that may require EL and having larger impacts from a surgical procedure. Frailty and sarcopenia (an objective marker of physiologic reserve), have been identified as concepts of significance for these patients. This project will evaluate the development of a pre-operative assessment tool incorporating frailty and sarcopenia, that can be used in this setting. The study will also examine the post-operative recovery journey of the older EL patient to better understand the key patient-centred factors. This study aims to reinforce that decision making in the acute-EL setting should be tailor made, taking into consideration each individual’s physiologic status, long-term prognosis and personal goals. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust Ruth Spencer Medical Research Fellowship LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ANTENATAL CORTICOSTEROID EXPOSURE ($302,000- 3 years) 1421003 2021 Dr Anthony Walters Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland This project aims to understand the later life effects of antenatal corticosteroid treatment for threatened preterm birth. Corticosteroids are recommended for women at risk of preterm birth to reduce breathing problems and improve survival of their babies. However, it is not known if there are long-term health effects of this treatment. The first study in the world to assess the effectiveness of corticosteroids was done in Auckland between 1969-1974. We will study the now 50 year old children of mothers who took part in that study, and also their own children, using questionnaires, routinely collected data and clinical assessments. The findings will determine whether corticosteroid treatment has effects on later health and wellbeing, including that of the next generation, to help improve future life-long care of those born preterm. Funded by: Ruth Spencer Charitable Trust AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship CULTIVATING BETTER MENTAL WELLBEING FOR REFUGEES ($214,184 - 2 years) 1321002 2021 Dr Zarintaj (Arezoo) Malihi Dept. of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work, The University of Auckland Ensuring the provision of equitable health services to all is a public health priority and a human right. This becomes more accentuated with minority groups who have been forcibly displaced from their home country due to persecution, conflict, and war. My fellowship will examine large data from different government agencies to identify and measure the mental well-being of refugees in New Zealand. I will develop this understanding by applying statistical models to refugees’ mental health status, service access rates, and wider settlement outcomes related to employment and education. This would help us to begin to understand what can be learnt from currently available data and what essential data is missing. This knowledge will inform future studies that would take refugees’ voices into account; an essential component to improving refugees' mental health. Results of this research will inform policy and practices to improve better settlement outcomes for this minority group. The methodological novelty holds further promise that this measure of wellbeing could be used for other minority groups, including Māori and Pacific peoples. Douglas Goodfellow Repatriation Fellowship OBESITY AND BREAST CANCER: A NOVEL 3D ORGANOID MODEL TO STUDY CANCER-ADIPOCYTE CROSSTALK ($407,591 - 2 years) 1421001 2021 Dr Emma Nolan Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, The University of Auckland Obesity is a growing global crisis and has been linked to significantly worse outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer. Breast tumours grow in an environment enriched in fat (adipose) cells, which have been recently shown to interact with cancer cells and boost their growth. However, due to a lack of laboratory models that can successfully mimic the interaction between cancer cells and adipose cells in the breast, the specific role that obesity plays in this relationship remains unclear. To address this question, this study will generate human breast ‘Organoids’ from tumours donated by patients with breast cancer, which are 3D clusters of tumour cells that highly resemble the tumour from which they are derived. These Organoids, or ‘mini-tumours in a dish’, will be grown in the presence of human breast adipose cells to understand how cancer behaviour differs between obese and lean patients. This innovative model could assist in the identification of new drug targets to combat adipose-driven cancer growth, offering a specialised therapy for breast cancer patients at risk of adipose-mediated effects. The Organoids are also themselves a valuable new tool for cancer researchers in New Zealand, and could enhance the clinical translation of research discoveries in our country. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship EFFECTS OF HEARING ON BALANCE ($201,690 - 2 years) 1321001 2021 Dr Rachael Taylor Dept. of Physiology, The University of Auckland Maintaining one's balance is a complex physiological process that depends on the integration of information from many senses, particularly vision, proprioception (sensing muscle and joint movement), and input from motion sensing (vestibular) organs of the inner ear. Disorders of these vestibular organs are a common cause of imbalance, leading to reduced mobility, decreased independence, and an increased risk of falls. Falls are a major health and social concern, particularly for older people. Interestingly, there is growing evidence that our sense of hearing interacts with vestibular input from the inner ear and preliminary evidence indicates it could be used to supplement impaired vestibular function in the maintenance of balance and spatial navigation. This project aims to understand the complex interaction of hearing and vestibular function in spatial awareness and maintenance of balance. Understanding the interaction between hearing and balance could lead to novel and easily implemented hearing interventions to enhance balance rehabilitation and reduce falls risk. Douglas Goodfellow Medical Research Fellowship MECHANISMS OF POST-SURGICAL GASTRIC ARRHYTHMIAS ($104,000 - 1 year) 1421004 2021 Dr Tim Hsu-Han Wang Dept. of Surgery, The University of Auckland Many upper gastrointestinal (GI) procedures are performed for several indications, such as for obesity or cancer. In New Zealand, the Māori population has a higher obesity prevalence of 48.3%. The most common post-surgical symptoms experienced include nausea, vomiting and indigestion. Recent technological advancements have allowed researchers to identify the presence of electrical waves in the stomach, similar to that in the heart. These electrical activities are controlled by nerve cells in the stomach wall, known as the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC). Abnormalities in these electrical waves have been attributed to GI symptoms. Electrical changes following gastric surgery have yet been identified. Recently, a new technique called Body Surface Gastric Mapping (BSGM) has enabled researchers to take recordings by applying an electrode array onto the skin, similar to an ECG, without any need for surgery. This study will be the world’s first, using BSGM on patients undergoing upper GI surgery to determine the electrical changes that occur following surgery. The study will also assess ICC networks at the GI anastomosis in pig models. The results from this study will undoubtedly open a new window into GI function and have the potential to affect millions of patients worldwide undergoing GI surgery. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust AMRF Postdoctoral Fellowship TWIST VALIDATION STUDY ($210,576 - 2 years) 1320001 2020 Dr Marie-Claire Smith Dept. of Medicine, The University of Auckland Around 10,000 New Zealanders experience stroke each year, and most will have difficulty walking. Regaining the ability to walk independently can make the difference between returning home, or having to move to a rest home or nursing home. Patients and whānau/family would like to know whether they will walk independently again and how long this will take. Unfortunately clinicians' predictions are accurate only about half the time. The TWIST tool predicts both whether and when a patient will walk safely on their own again, with 90% accuracy. These predictions will enable patients, whānau and clinical teams to more confidently plan patients’ care, discharge, and short and long term living arrangements. In turn, this is expected to improve rehabilitation efficiency, and reduce the emotional and economic burden on patients and whānau as they adjust to life after stroke. This study will validate TWIST so it can be implemented in clinical care. It will also interview patients, whānau/family, and clinicians, to understand the perceived benefits and risks of giving and receiving prediction information. The results of this study will lay the groundwork for the next study that will see what happens when prediction information about walking is available in routine clinical practice. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $13,210. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. ​ MULTI-OMICS FOR ACS ($182,948 - 2 years) 1320003 2020 Dr Nikki Earle Dept. of Medicine, The University of Auckland Mortality rates for cardiovascular disease in New Zealand are decreasing, meaning people are more likely to survive events such as heart attacks and be living with heart disease. The rates of subsequent events in these people are high, and there are persistent ethnic inequities with worse outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples. In this study of over 2000 New Zealanders who have survived their first heart attack, we aim to develop new ways to identify people at highest risk of death or rehospitalisation to enable targeting of preventative interventions. This will include exploring genetic markers of risk across New Zealand’s unique mix of ethnic groups, and several other biomarkers, in addition to the known clinical, lifestyle and environmental cardiovascular risk factors. This research may lead to novel approaches to reduce recurrent events in patients with established heart disease, identify more personalised treatments, and help increase equity of outcomes. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $11,825. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust ​ INTERPRETATION OF ENHANCER MUTATIONS DRIVING CANCER ONSET, PROGRESSION, AND TREATMENT ($212,408 - 2 years) 1320002 2020 Dr William Schierding Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland The increasing availability of large international genetic databases and inexpensive, cloud-based computation makes now an ideal time to develop a tool which can show a comprehensive picture of mutations in the context of regulatory elements, specifically 3-D genome structure. The bioinformatics approach will be fast (minutes), inexpensive to operate (only data storage costs), provide open access to mutation annotation for all clinical and genomics experts, and attribute impact to the numerous cancer variants currently classified as having “unknown significance”. The value of this approach is to improve future diagnostics with the power to understand non-coding mutations, to alleviate: 1. patient anxiety (“Is my family member hurt by these variants of unknown significance?”); 2. clinician overburden (overwhelming information without clear clinical answers); and 3. diagnostic cost (expensive expertise to diagnose individuals with unknown burden). Therefore, this project could lead to a beneficial way to screen mutations and reduce the burden of having so many unknowns. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $13,763. This was matched by a similar contribution from the University of Auckland’s Covid Hardship Fund. Funded by: Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust Edith C Coan Postdoctoral Research Fellowship PROBING THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF SKIN WITH LASERS, LIGHT SCATTERING AND MOLECULAR IONISATION ($200,306 – 2 years) 1319001 2019 Dr Hannah Holtkamp School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Diagnosing different skin diseases is dependent on an instrument’s ability to identify the unique signals of each disease. Unstudied skin diseases have ill-defined biochemistry and require analytical techniques that can provide a broad biomolecular survey. Two techniques are capable of this, and they generate two different spectral fingerprints. Raman spectroscopy is non-invasive (making it ideal for diagnostics) and provides a precise ratio of biomolecular components present in tissue (e.g. lipids, proteins, etc). Mass spectrometry (MS) is invasive but identifies all individual biomolecules present by their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio. By developing computational algorithms, the precise molecular information from mass spectrometry can be incorporated into Raman measurements with which the unique aspects of any skin disease can be more precisely identified. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a case study for these techniques due to its distinctiveness compared to other types of lupus. Unless one is an expert dermatologist, its classification and diagnosis are challenging. This project will contribute to a fundamental understanding of how DLE differs from other skin diseases. Furthermore, the computational methods that provide enhanced dermatological diagnostic resolution will be incorporated into the development of a Raman spectroscopy-based portable device (currently under development). Funded by: Edith C Coan Trust

Covid Grants In 2020, AMRF called for applications for Covid-19 research projects costing up to a maximum of $100,000, from an initial investment of $500,000. The fund focused solely on biomedical, clinical and population-health research, specifically investigating COVID-19, its impact and outcomes. AMRF aimed to fund a wide range of research covering focus areas such as bio-medical studies and identifying new treatments through to studies exploring the societal impacts of the lockdown. This fund was created in addition to the Foundation’s average of more than $3.5 million – granted annually for a wide range of medical research each year – including dementia, cancers, stroke treatments, antibiotic development, heart health and youth mental health.​ ​ Read more COVID-19 WELLBEING APP ($98,281 - 12 months) 1720008 2020 Dr Anna Serlachius, Dr Hiran Thabrew, Nic Cao, Ms Eva Morunga, Dr Alana Cavadino Dept. of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people in New Zealand experienced significant mental health issues and the worst youth suicide rate among OECD nations. Recent stresses related to rapid lockdown, physical isolation, disrupted academic routines and financial insecurity are likely to exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues and to generate new ones, especially anxiety and depression. Now, more than ever, young people need to develop skills to maintain their wellbeing and build resilience through the coming months. As young people aged 16-30 years living in New Zealand are primarily digital natives with good cell-phone access, a prototype app, called ‘Whitu’, or ‘7 ways in 7 days’, has been developed for them by researchers at the University of Auckland and Auckland District Health Board. The easily disseminable app includes seven modules that can be completed within a week to learn evidence-based coping skills such as relaxation, gratitude and mindfulness. Preliminary assessment of a basic prototype is underway, including with young people of Māori and Pacific Island ethnicity, and now formal evaluation of the minimally viable app is planned via an AMRF-funded randomised controlled trial. NURSE WELLBEING DURING COVID-19 ($31,494 - 12 months) 4720010 2020 Dr Matthew Roskruge, Dr Margaret Brunton, Dr Catherine Cook Massey Business School, Massey University Our nurses are essential to the success of our health system and response to COVID-19. While New Zealand is not yet facing the catastrophic pressure felt overseas, nurses are working on the front lines and experiencing the risks and vulnerabilities to themselves and their whanau. This can have serious consequences such as anxiety and depression, harming nurse wellbeing and undermining our health system at a time of need. This research will directly address workforce sustainability by investigating the impact COVID-19 has on nurse wellbeing in the Auckland region and identifying resilience strategies which can be deployed by nurses, their employers and organizations which support them. To achieve this, data on wellbeing are collected through online surveying to identify patterns resulting from the pandemic. These data are then complemented with interviews exploring themes identified in the survey, focusing on sustainability strategies and opportunities to intervene to improve wellbeing. The research will have an impact not only in the science community, but also for our largest health workforce by informing the development of support strategies during this and future crises, directly contributing to a better health system and improved outcomes for both nurses and the public they work tirelessly to support. MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ($81,878 - 12 months) 1720006 2020 Associate Professor Danny Osborne, Professor Chris Sibley, Dr Lara Greaves School of Psychology, The University of Auckland Although necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19, the mental health consequences of New Zealand’s nationwide lockdown are unknown. The current proposal will address this oversight by comparing nationally representative data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study collected in the months before New Zealand’s first known case of COVID-19 with new data obtained in the 12 weeks during and after the initial nationwide lockdown (Study 1), as well as a year later (Study 2). Accordingly, we will examine both the short- and long-term mental health consequences of the unprecedented lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Results will provide critical insights into the psychological wellbeing of New Zealanders while under lockdown, and help to identify populations at risk of developing mental health problems while the nation fights to contain the spread of COVID-19. Because New Zealand and other countries across the globe are likely to move between various degrees of lockdown until a vaccine is developed, understanding how lockdowns affect public mental health is necessary in order to effectively develop targeted interventions for those who are most psychologically vulnerable to prolonged periods of self-isolation. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $14,301. SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AMONG OLDER PEOPLE DURING COVID-19 ($98,257 - 12 months) 1720005 2020 Professor Merryn Gott, Dr Tatiana Tavares, Ms Louise Rees, Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell, Associate Professor Janine Wiles, Ms Tessa Morgan, Dr Lisa Williams School of Nursing, The University of Auckland People over 70 have been identified as the group most vulnerable to Covid-19 with specific restrictions imposed on their activities. The media has characterised this group as passive and in need of protection. However, their diverse views and experiences of the lockdown are unknown. This information is critical to informing current – and future – public health responses to this ongoing pandemic situation. In this study we will explore the impact of the government response to Covid-19 on people aged >70 years through: 1) in-depth interviews exploring the experiences of a culturally-diverse group of the most socially isolated and lonely older New Zealanders; 2) the creation of a national archive of letters and photographs from older New Zealanders describing and illustrating their experience of the pandemic and articulating what strategies they have used, and barriers they have faced, to remaining socially connected; 3) an analysis of how the media have represented older people within the context of the pandemic; and 4) a service provider survey. Our partners in the project - Age Concern New Zealand - will use findings to inform their pandemic response and we will use creative methods to promote further impact. Funded by: AC Horton Estate ANTIVIRAL THERAPEUTICS AND DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM FOR COVID-19 ($74,470 - 12 months) 1720013 2020 Dr Daniel Furkert, Professor Vernon Ward, Mr Dan Fellner, Dr Sung Yan, Associate Professor Paul Harris School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Antiviral drugs alongside an effective vaccine are essential for long-term clinical management of COVID19. This project will leverage our existing antiviral drug discovery collaboration to rapidly generate and assay a set of lead compounds against SARS CoV-2 main protease. Compounds will be designed using a combination of molecular docking and state-of-art molecular dynamics for development of novel therapeutic agents for clinical treatment of COVID-19. In March 2022, the AMRF Covid-19 Relief Fund provided an additional $14,240. COVID-19 AND INTERRAI RESEARCH ($27,100 - 12 months) 1720014 2020 Dr Gary Cheung, Dr Etuini Ma'u, Dr Claudia Rodriguez, Mr Adrian Martinez Ruiz, Professor Vanessa Burholt, Dr Brigid Ryan Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland Older adults are the most at-risk group for COVID-19 infection. Self-isolation is likely to affect both formal and informal care and lead to loneliness, depression, accelerated functional and cognitive decline, and falls. Loneliness is a serious public health concern and a risk factor for premature mortality, poor physical and psychological wellbeing. interRAI Home Care is a comprehensive geriatric assessment mandated for all older New Zealanders assessed for publicly funded home support services and aged residential care. The interRAI population typically have physical illness and/or functional impairment. A NZ study found a high rate of loneliness (21%) among older adults assessed with the interRAI Home Care. It is likely that the interRAI population (~36,000 interRAI assessments per year) will experience further decline in their health and psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of this study are to (i) track the impact of COVID-19 on the health and psychosocial indicators of the interRAI population quarterly in the first year of COVID-19; (ii) compare these indicators with the same indicators in the year before COVID-19; and (iii) report these indicators publicly as soon as data analysis is completed every quarter. SARS-COV-2 VIRUS ENTRY INHIBITORS ($96,457 - 12 months) 1720007 2020 Distinguished Professor Dame Margaret Brimble, Dr Alan Cameron, Professor Miguel Quinones-Mateu, Mr Dan Fellner, Dr Allan Zhang, Dr Daniel Furkert, Associate Professor Paul Harris School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland Given the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid development of a potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic agent is imperative. It has been determined that SARS-CoV-2 makes its entry to human host cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on human cell surfaces via a spike protein. We will develop agents that will prevent virus cell entry by disrupting the key binding interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the host cell. These new modalities provide a promising opportunity for the discovery of new antiviral drugs to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Trustees Our Team Members Our Board of Trustees are dedicated professionals who gift their time and range of expertise to ensure the highest quality of governance for AMRF. Richard Taylor is a partner in TGT Legal (Barristers & Solicitors). He specialises in trust law, personal asset and succession planning, relationship property issues, estates and charitable trusts. He was appointed to the Board of AMRF in 2004. He is a trustee of the Halberg Foundation. Richard Taylor President, BCom, LLB Dr Anna King is a clinical nurse, with over a decade of experience in academic research and lecturing at The University of Auckland. Her expertise includes clinical skills teaching and Older Person’s Health and she has published widely in the field of gerontology. As a board member of the Goodfellow Foundation, Anna supports the Goodfellow Unit’s educational and development programmes for primary healthcare professionals. She is Portfolio Manager - Practice Services at ProCare, an Auckland health care cooperative. She joined the board of AMRF in September 2021 and brings a range of skills and experience to help advance the AMRF vision of improving the health and quality of life for all New Zealanders. Dr Anna King Vice President, BNurs (Hons), RN, PhD Katie Noble is the Managing Director of Allied Medical Limited providing assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment to New Zealand. She has held additional governance roles in commercial, government and non-profit organisations, including Yes Disability Resource Centre Trust, Make-a-Wish New Zealand, Muscular Dystrophy Northern, Lotteries Auckland Community Distribution Committee and Sunderland School Property Ltd. She joined the board of AMRF in September 2021. With her energetic style of leadership, Katie contributes her expertise in organizational culture, people and sales and marketing to help make New Zealand a better place for us all no matter what our background or ability. Katie Noble Vice President Prof Browett is a Consultant Haematologist at Auckland City Hospital, Professor of Pathology and Chair of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland. He is a graduate of the University of Otago Medical School, and after postgraduate training in clinical and laboratory haematology in Auckland, he was a Wellcome – HRC Research Fellow in the Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London. Peter is involved in several co-operative group and institution iniated studies in haematologic malignancies and stem cell transplantation. He also heads a laboratory research group with interests in the genetics of thrombosis and bleeding, molecular markers in leukaemia and the role of PI3 kinase signalling in acute myeloid leukaemia. Peter has been involved with the Auckland Medical Research Foundation for several years, initially serving on the Medical Committee, and more recently as a member of the Board. Professor Peter Browett Chair of the AMRF Medical Committee, BMedSci, MBChB (Otago), FRACP, FRCPA Professor Larry Chamley is Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at the University of Auckland where he heads a research group studying the biology and immunology of reproduction. He is also the Director of the Hub for Extracellular Vesicles (HEVI) at The University of Auckland and is a member of the Council of the International Society for Immunology of Reproduction. He is the Editor of Trophoblast Research, an Associate Editor of Reproduction and Chair of the Publications Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Immunology. Larry has been Co-Deputy Chair of our Medical Committee since 2021 and was appointed to our Board in December 2022. Professor Larry Chamley Co-Deputy Chair of the AMRF Medical Committee, BSc (Waikato) MSc, PhD (Auckland), FSRB Peter Goodfellow is Executive Chairman of Lock Finance. He was appointed to the Board of Auckland Medical Research Foundation in 2007. He has previously practised law and was Chairman XS Corporation Ltd. Peter was the President of the New Zealand National Party from 2009 to 2022. Peter Goodfellow LLB, BComm, MBA James Grey is an investment and wealth management professional, specialising in portfolio and risk management, and has worked at JMI Wealth since 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Business degree with a double major in finance and economics and is a Financial Advisor. He is a passionate advocate for improving financial literacy nationwide and strongly believes in giving back to the community. He completed the Te Whare Hukahuka programme (Ka eke Poutama – Māori Governance) and has iwi affiliations with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri. James is married with two children and in his spare time is undertaking a Master of Actuarial Science. James was appointed to the board of AMRF in June 2022. James Grey B Bus Associate Professor Vanessa Selak is a Public Health Physician and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Auckland. Vanessa has 15 years’ experience working in hospital-based clinical, funding, planning and quality roles. She is the Director of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Programme and provides postgraduate training in health data analytics and quality improvement. Her research uses routinely collected electronic data to support clinical service improvement, primarily within the field of cardiology. Most recently, Vanessa has led the development of a bleeding prognostic model and individualised benefit harm calculator to guide the use of aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Vanessa was appointed as Co-Deputy Chair of our Medical Committee in December 2022 and we were delighted to have Vanessa join our Board at the same time. Associate Professor Vanessa Selak Co-Deputy Chair of the AMRF Medical Committee, MBChB (Otago), MPH (Auckland), FAFPHM, FNZCPHM, PhD (Auckland) Prof Peter Thorne has a joint appointment in the Section of Audiology and Department of Physiology at the University of Auckland. He is a Deputy Director of the University’s Centre for Brain Research and is on the Management Directorate of Brain Research New Zealand, a national Centre of Research Excellence. He completed his PhD at the University of Auckland and post-doctoral studies at the University of Auckland and at the Kresge Hearing Research Institute, University of Michigan. His research is in the area of sensory neurobiology particularly inner ear homeostasis and the influence of noise exposure and aging on hearing. He is the Chairman of the National Foundation for the Deaf and is on the Board of the Deafness Research Foundation. In 2009, he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to audiology and auditory neuroscience. Professor Peter Thorne Deputy Chair of the AMRF Medical Committee, CNZM, BSc, DipSc, PhD Douglas was the Chairman of Amalgamated Dairies Ltd and a number of other private companies. He was a former Chairman of Sanford Ltd, Deputy Chairman of Fernz Corporation Ltd (now Nufarm Ltd) and a former Chairman of Cambridge Clothing Co Ltd and Refrigeration Engineering Ltd. He was a former trustee of various charitable organisations, including those in medical research and education. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Auckland and was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Douglas Goodfellow was on the Board of the Auckland Medical Research Foundation from 1978 – 2008. Douglas Goodfellow OBE AMRF Patron 1955-2014

Who we are Our Philosophy We adhere to a philosophy which advocates that research enhances the standard of practice of medicine and that research is seen as the lifeline of medicine.

Why is research important? It’s hard to imagine what our lives would be like without vaccinations, organ transplants, cancer treatments or diagnostic tools and, luckily, we don’t have to. Over the centuries, medical researchers are the ones who have sown the seeds of progress for our future health and it’s an indisputable fact that medical research changes lives. Our researchers laid the foundations of medical advancements we all benefit from today and our sole purpose at AMRF is to provide funding for researchers right here, right now so they can continue finding the solutions of tomorrow. ​ We have funded pioneers like Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes who led the way in heart bypass surgery and fast forward to the present, we are supporting Dr Brigid Ryan in her world-first study of a family with a mutant gene causing frontotemporal dementia. Why Auckland Medical Research Foundation? We are the largest independent funder of medical research in New Zealand and since 1955, we’ve awarded over $92,000,000 of funding for research led out of the Auckland and Northland region. At AMRF, we know our stuff and pride ourselves in having some of the most robust evaluation processes you could wish to find in New Zealand and the world. ​ Our Board and Medical Committee are committed experts and professionals who all gift their time and extensive knowledge to make us the best we can be. ​ All of our funding is contestable so this means research is supported in the vast array of medical and health science fields - research that can make a transformational difference in the lives of all New Zealanders, no matter what age or stage. ​ A little girl, a doctor, a new lease on life. Kiriana Elliot was only 8 years old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia and her mum, Ursula, described this as ‘the worst day of our lives’. The next two years were a roller-coaster for the Elliot family, facing all of the physical, emotional and financial challenges that a cancer diagnosis brings. ​ Their guiding light throughout was Dr Andrew Wood, Kiriana’s specialist at Starship Hospital and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland undertaking vital research into childhood leukaemia treatments. ​ A family gift was responsible for bringing Dr Wood back to New Zealand after having worked offshore in America for many years. In Andrew’s words “The AMRF Douglas Goodfellow Repatriation Fellowship Award has provided the critical start-up funds for establishing my position at the University of Auckland and the reputation of the AMRF review process is instrumental in helping to attract other research funding needed to carry on this project.” ​ This gift brought home a talented, respected and experienced researcher and provided Kiriana with the specialist care needed to have her return home to her family in full remission. Stories Are you curious about hearing loss research? 18 0 Post not marked as liked How is AMRF supporting groundbreaking medical device research to help hydrocephalus sufferers? 52 0 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 Families rally behind AMRF, giving hope to others after losing loved ones to brain cancers 119 0 Post not marked as liked Read More

Apply For A Grant Applications can be made through the Auckland Medical Research Foundation’s online portal . Apply now Grant categories and applications ​ The purpose of the Foundation is to improve the health of New Zealanders through funding the highest quality medical research of all kinds. ​ The AMRF’s research funding area is limited to all recognised tertiary institutions and district health boards (DHBs) in the greater Auckland and Northland region of New Zealand. The principal investigator/grant holder must be affiliated with a host institution within this area, and the majority of work should be undertaken within this area, but co-applicants can come from, and part of the research can be performed, outside our catchment area – either nationally or internationally. ​ Several categories of funding are available. ​ Please refer to the specific guidelines for each funding application and check the submission dates. Please note that host institutions may have earlier internal deadlines. Learn more on how to apply Applications can be made through the Auckland Medical Research Foundation’s online portal . Apply now

Annual Reports The Auckland Medical Research Foundation is pleased to present our 2022 annual report . Download it now (15MB) to read about health and medical research including: ​ Neurons of the hearing system ​ Artificial Intelligence and asthma attack prevention ​ Inaugural early career researcher hui ​ Ground-breaking neuroscience research into early-onset dementia ​ ​And much more! Download 2021 Annual Report 2016 Annual Report 2020 Annual Report 2015 Annual Report 2019 Annual Report 2014 Annual Report 2018 Annual Report 2013 Annual Report 2017 Annual Report 2012 Annual Report "I’ve been really fortunate to have support from AMRF throughout my career. AMRF has absolutely helped me establish myself." Dr David Musson, AMRF Senior Research Fellow ​ Enjoy reading a summary of research highlights in this brief impact report