Progress Takes People: NRF Awards $300,000 New Personnel Grants

Following a state-wide think tank hosted by NRF President Nick Vrodos in January, which brought together South Australia’s leading neurosurgeons and researchers, the priority became clear: people are at the heart of research progress.

As a result, the NRF created a new grant category to fund researchers and research assistants directly. This year, $300,000 in funding was distributed across 6 projects, with each recipient receiving $50,000 to further vital research. The grants reflect the NRF’s commitment to investing in innovation and strengthening South Australia's research capacity.

Among the recipients:

• Bree Hodgson, Research Assistant at the SA Neurological Brain Tumour Bank (SANTB), will support an increasing number of neuro-oncology projects.
• Sidra Nawaz Khan, assisting in CAR T Cell Therapy Clinical Trials at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, will help manage the growing demand for cutting-edge patient trials.
• Shannon Stuckey, in the Translational Neuropathology Laboratory, will contribute to vital stroke surgery research, addressing a critical need for lab personnel.
• Angus McNamara in the Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, will lead the ongoing FIND-TBI study and investigate why TBI significantly increases risk of later developing a neurodgenerative disorder, including Parkinson’s disease (PD).
• Dr Rebecca Hood in the Translational Neuropathology Laboratory, will work on key stroke projects exploring the role of neuroinflammation in the development of secondary neurodegeneration following stroke
• Mr Hugh McCloskey in the Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research, investigating Adelaide MRI metrics as trauma screening and return-to-play tools for contact sport athletes.

This initiative marks a significant step forward, ensuring that the NRF’s research projects have the manpower necessary to deliver life-changing advancements.

If you would like to support life saving research and help drive research forward, please consider donating today.