What we do The Primary Function
The primary function of our committees is to consider applications for funding and make recommendations to Council. Council will give due consideration to these recommendations before reaching any decision in the matter of making any grants or allocations of Foundation funding. Committee members may also be invited by Council to provide expert comment on any aspect of the Foundation’s aims and processes
Committee membership is balanced and diverse, considering geography, institution, gender, and career stage. Our pool of experts includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and neuroscientists with expertise ranging from basic science to clinical trials and commercialisation of research.
The Personal Awards Committee
The PAC was established in 2019 to consider applications for studentships, scholarships, and fellowships.
The Scientific Advisory Committee
The SAC considers applications for research projects, conferences, and training courses. Prior to 2019, the SAC considered all applications for funding.
Our expert committee members are an integral part of the Foundation, and we’d like you to meet them:
Professor John Dalrymple-Alford
Scientific Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Professor of Psychology in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury, Adjunct Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Director of Neuropsychology and Co-ordinator of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinic, New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch
Associate Professor Bronwyn Kivell
Scientific Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Christina Buchanan
Personal Awards Committee Co-Chair
Research Genetic Counsellor and Study Co-ordinator in the Neurology Department at Auckland City Hospital
Dr Simon O’Carroll
Personal Awards Committee Co-Chair
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging at the University of Auckland, Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Facility in the Centre for Brain Research
Associate Professor Greg Anson
Honorary Academic in the Department of Exercise Sciences at the University of Auckland
Dr Indranil Basak
Research Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, and member of the Brain Health Research Centre and Aotearoa Brain Project.
Associate Professor Caroline Beck
Development biologist and Associate Professor (Genetics and Zoology) in the department of Zoology, University of Otago
Professor Colin Brown
Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago, member of the Brain Health Research Centre, the Centre for Neuroendocrinology and the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery
Professor Winston Byblow
Professor in the Department of Exercise Sciences at the University of Auckland, Director of the Movement Neuroscience Laboratory and member of the Centre for Brain Research Advisory Board
Dr Erin Cawston
Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Auckland, Dementia Prevention Research Clinic Blood Bank Research Fellow, Aotearoa Brain Project
Dr Andrew Clarkson
Neurorepair and regenerative biology consultant
Dr James Cleland
Neurologist at Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Dr Catherine Crofts
Senior Lecturer (Pharmacology) School of Interprofessional Health Studies, Auckland University of Technology and a NZ registered pharmacist
Dr Paul Drury
Anaesthetic Registrar at Middlemore Hospital and Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Physiology at the University of Auckland
Dr Peter Freestone
Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology at the University Auckland
Associate Professor Steven Gieseg
Associate Professor in Biochemistry in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury and Honorary Associate Professor in the department of Radiology at the University of Otago
Professor Stephanie Hughes
Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, member of the Brain Health Research Centre and Aotearoa Brain Project
Associate Professor Karl Iremonger
Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago
Dr Evan Jolliffe
Consultant neurologist at Wellington Hospital and Riddiford Medical Specialists
Dr Joanne Lin
Research Fellow in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland and a NZ-registered pharmacist
Dr Susan Mahon
Senior Lecturer Psychology, Programme Leader Rehabilitation Psychology Programme, in the School of Clinical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology, and member of Aotearoa Brain Project
Associate Professor Tracy Melzer
Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago, Christchurch; MRI Research Manager at the New Zealand Brain Research Institute; and Principal Investigator with Aotearoa Brain Project
Associate Professor Anna Mitchell
Associate Professor in Behavioural Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury
Dr Thomas Park
Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Auckland
Associate Professor Mangor Pedersen
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Auckland University of Technology and the Associate Head of Research at the AUT School of Clinical Sciences
Dr Toni Pitcher
Senior Research Fellow at University of Otago, Christchurch; and Research Operations Manager at the New Zealand Brain Research Institute
Dr Shakila Rizwan
Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Otago, member of the Brain Health Research Centre and a registered pharmacist
Professor Bruce Russell
Associate Dean in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Otago
Dr Margaret Ryan
Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago
Professor Lynette Sadleir
Paediatric Epileptologist and physician researcher in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Otago, Wellington
Associate Professor Sam Schwarzkopf
Associate Professor for neuroimaging and psychophysics at the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Auckland
Dr Emma Scotter
Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Auckland, member of the Centre for Brain Research and Aotearoa Brain Project, head of the Motor Neuron Disease laboratory
Dr Rebecca Sharp
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Auckland and a psychologist with ABI Rehabilitation
Dr Fredrick Sundram
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland and a Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at North Shore Hospital
Dr Jennifer Taylor
Neurologist at Capital and Coast District Health Board
Professor Alice Theadom
Professor in psychology and neuroscience at Auckland University of Technology, Director of the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Network and registered psychologist
Dr Eloise Watson
Neurologist at Wellington Hospital
Professor Zimei Wu
Professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland
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