Nerve-disorder study grants

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 4

Nerve-disorder study grants

More than $200,000 will be spent by the Neurological Foundation during 1980-81 on research into neurological diseases and disorders. Mr T. Sheehan, of Auckland, national administrator of the foundation, said that funds far the 1980-81 research projects had come from the record support for the foundation’s national postal appeal earlier this year. The foundation has made grants of $66,278 in six more new neurological research projects. Associate Professor M. Pollock, of the department of medicine at the Otago Medical School, receives $4750 for an investigation into the nature of antibodies present in the blood which may cause diseases of peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves carry information from, the brain to the muscles, and from the body to the brain. Professor Pollock has achieved world recognition for work of this type related to multiple sclerosis. Professor M. C. Corballis and Associate Professor T. L. Beale, of the psychology department at. the University

}of Auckland, have received $35,300 for an investigation into the reading problems of young children. ! Dr H. C. Ford, of the ; chemical pathology division iat Wellington Hospital, has received $3244 for an in(vestigation of the brain’s im[mune system and its relationship to multiple scle'rosis. I Dr R. J. Harvey of the anatomy department at the Otago Medical School, has received $18,853 for a study of the cerebellum, a small part of the brain particularly concerned with the contro! Of movement. Drs E. J. Kirk and-D. H Carr, of the department ol physiology and anatomy at Massey University, have received $4150 for a study ol the mechanisms of pain.