|
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 2006
The Neurological Foundation has experienced another year of progress with the announcement of a research budget of $1.5 million. Although the public health challenges of the future are significant, it is pleasing that the Foundation’s commitment to neurological research continues to grow with our new research funding likely to exceed $2 million in the next year or two.
Yet all charities are facing an increasingly competitive market and I cannot emphasise enough how grateful the Foundation is to our supporters. It is your ongoing generosity that makes this research possible.
Perhaps the most exciting development for the Foundation this year is the decision to launch a campaign to establish a Chair in Clinical Neurology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of the University of Auckland. It has been a long-held wish of both neurologists and neuroscientists to strengthen the bonds between the two disciplines and we believe that this campaign will see that wish realised. The appointment will be a joint project by the School of Medicine, the District Health Board and the Foundation. Our share, a professor’s salary and research costs, will be funded from a special fundraising campaign launched in November.
|
 |
Mr Greg Thompson (Deputy Chairman-NF National Council)
Mr Ian Robertson (Chairman-NF National Council) |
The difficulty faced by researchers to find funding for projects was the theme of our annual appeal fundraising campaign this year. And although those who viewed the television commercial would have seen that it was approached in a light-hearted manner, it is a serious issue and one that will worsen as our ageing population puts a heavy demand on the health system.
However, neuroscience in New Zealand is strengthening with each passing year and it is especially pleasing to see young scientists we have fostered through their early studies now making an impact on the world stage with cutting edge research.
So far this year, several New Zealand neuroscientists have had research papers published in the world’s top scientific journals. Furthermore, major clinical studies on Parkinson’s disease and stroke, designed and run by New Zealand scientists and clinicians, are currently underway.
The Foundation’s founders and other Council members over the past three decades can be proud that the vision they had is responsible for building several generations of top-class researchers and clinicians capable of taking on the challenges of the future.
Aside from individual donors, all charities in New Zealand will acknowledge the tremendous support they receive from charitable trusts. Lodge Ara Charitable Trust, the N. H. Taylor Trust and the J. A. Redwood Trust administered by Guardian Trust, the Levene Charitable Trust, the Thanksgiving Trust in Dunedin, the Dowdall Trust administered by the Public Trust and the H. B. Williams Turanga Trust have all again made generous donations which have provided equipment, supported specific research projects or helped the Foundation with its running costs. We are most grateful for their ongoing support.
To our volunteers in divisions throughout the country, the Council and the Scientific Advisory Committee and at the National Office, to the staff of the National Office and to our Community Liaison Officers: thank you for all of your efforts. You are vital components in this endeavour to search for the causes of neurological disorders and look for ways to alleviate the suffering that results from them. It is pleasing to see that those who come to work for the Foundation soon become passionate about its cause and work.
I would like to take this opportunity to record my thanks to Merv Vile who has recently retired as chair of the Canterbury West Coast Division. Merv was a founding member of the Council and became a Life Member in 1992 on his retirement from the Council. He has continued on as chairman of the Division since then and retired this year, handing over to Rosemary Bonkowski. In welcoming Mrs Bonkowski to the Foundation I wish to express my appreciation to Merv Vile for his enormous contribution over the last 35 years. I am please to report that he has agreed to become the Patron of the Canterbury Division.
I want to welcome James Hellaby to the Council. He comes to the Foundation with considerable experience in finance and a particular interest in information technology. He is also a trustee for the JB Hellaby Trust and his experience will be an asset for our organisation.
Without our supporters, none of this would be possible. Although it may seem that a small donation can make little difference, it is in fact your contributions that are fostering and building neuroscience in New Zealand. Without your generous support the search for cures and treatments for neurological disorders would be greatly impaired. Together we are indeed making a difference.
Ian Robertson
Chairman
National Council
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2007
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2005
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2004
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2003
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2002
Click here to view the Chairman's Report 2001
|
|
