Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)
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PDFThe Neurological Foundation uses a peer-review system to evaluate research applications. Although the Foundation’s National Council makes the final decisions regarding allocation of funds for research they rely heavily on expert advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The 12-member SAC is composed of clinical neurologists and neurosurgeons, psychologists and neuroscientists, each with vast research experience, plus a representative from the National Council, and the Council chairman.
All members of the SAC review all applications to the Foundation and individual SAC members prepare a detailed report on one or two Project and/or Small Project (under $10,000) applications that fall within their area of expertise. Each project application is also reviewed and scored by at least five independent experts in the relevant field (usually from overseas) and their comments are factored into the SAC members’ report. Small Project applications are not externally reviewed.
At the twice-yearly SAC meetings reports on the individual proposals are presented and debated and a vote is taken to accept or reject the application. If the majority is in favour of funding the research project each SAC member then scores the application according to the view of its merit and these scores are used to rank the research proposals. When all applications have been considered they are listed in order of merit and the amount required to fund the approved applications is reviewed in light of the funds allocated for the research round. It is usually necessary to draw a line if the cost of approved research exceeds the budget available. In this way the Neurological Foundation ensures that the money available is used to fund only the best neuroscience research.
The first Scientific Advisory Committee meeting was held in Wellington on 3 July 1972. Eight people interested in neuroscience were present. Three research projects were approved and grants totaling $12,500 (worth around $100,000 today) were awarded.
Current Scientific Advisory Committee Members
Chairman
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Associate Professor John Reynolds
Department of Anatomy
Research interest: Translational research on Parkinson's disease, stroke and epilepsy
Members
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Professor Paul Smith
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago
Research interest: Vestibular/auditory neuroscience and more generally molecular and neurochemical approaches to lesion-induced plasticity in the central nervous system; biochemical, pharmacological, electrophysiological or behavioural methods which look at the mechanisms of neural damage
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Dr Cathy Stinear
Department of Medicine, Universtiy of Auckland
Research interest: Developing techniques for predicting and promoting recovery of function after stroke. These techniques include non-invasive brain stimulation and coordinated movement patterns to prime the brain for a more plastic response to therapy and are currently being tested in clinical trials with people at the sub-acute and chronic stage of stroke
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Associate Professor Deborah Young
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Auckland
Research interest: Gene therapy, mechanisms in neurodegenerative disorders (epilepsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's Disease), growth factors, neurogenesis, learning and viral vectors
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Dr Phil Wood
Geriatrician, Clinical Service Leader, Waikato District Health Boards' Older Person's and Rehabilitation Services
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Dr Nick Cutfield
Clinical Senior Lecturer (Neurology), Dunedin School of Medicine
Neurologist, Dunedin Hospital
Research interests include Alzheimer’s disease, tinnitus and balance disorders
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Dr Jennifer Pereira
Neurologist
Research interest: Neuroimmunology and in particular multiple sclerosis
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Associate Professor Bronwen Connor
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology
Research interest: Stem cell therapy and gene transfer techniques for the treatment of brain injury and disease
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Dr Peter Heppner
Paediatric and adult neurosurgeon at Starship and Auckland City Hospital
Surgical interests: Neurosurgery for Children, tumours and spine. Research interests: the assessment of cerebral blood flow, and epidemiology and treatment of cerebral glioma
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Professor Brian Hyland
Department of Physiology, School of Medical Science, University of Otago
Research interests:
• Neurophysiology of midbrain dopamine systems and pathways which modulate dopamine neuron activity.
• Effects of abnormal dopamine activity such as occurs in Parkinson's disease on activity in the motor control pathways -
Associate Professor Anne La Flamme
School of Biological Sciences, University of Victoria
Research interest: Multiple sclerosis and the role of the macrophage in initiating and regulating the immune response
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Dr Liana Machado
Department of Psychology, University of Otago
Research interest:Strategic control over reflexes and attention in both normal individuals and patients with unilateral brain damage
Scientific Secretary
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Dr Douglas Ormrod
Scientific Secretary
Medical Adviser
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Dr Jon Simcock
Neurologist