Foundation awards $865,000 for health research
Eight local medical researchers have been awarded a total of $865,000 in funding from the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation (CMRF) as part of its annual Major Project Grants round.
This year’s research topics include Huntington’s Disease, cannabis use in pregnancy, stuttering in children, tuberculosis, mental health, prostate and breast cancer.
Foundation Director Melissa Haberfield says CMRF is delighted that its annual grants process has continued despite Covid-19 lockdowns, as a number of similar funding programmes have not.
“Researchers rely on securing funding to undertake their projects. Supporting Canterbury-based health and wellbeing research is our reason for being,” she explains. “It’s testament to the hard work of our team and the dedication of our loyal supporters who have donated to fund these world class research projects. Research is incredibly important and shouldn’t stop because of things like Covid-19. In fact, it’s more important than ever.”
CMRF received a record number of applications this year, highlighting the demand for health and medical research funding. All researchers are aligned with one of CMRF’s host institutions including University of Canterbury, University of Otago Christchurch and New Zealand Brain Research Institute.
About CMRF
Currently more than 37 CMRF funded research projects are underway, with some of them already producing important findings and interim results.
The CMRF is a non-profit organisation focused on investing in world class research to achieve better health and well-being outcomes for people through the prevention, treatment and ultimately, the cure of life threatening and debilitating conditions.
Since it was established in 1960 by Sir Don Beaven, it has funded more than $30 million in research into devastating conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, bowel disease, strokes, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. The Foundation is reliant on the goodwill and financial support of generous individuals, trusts and businesses.
This support during the last 60 years means the foundation has investments in excess of $14 million and is able to award research grants in the order of $1 million, annually.
www cmrf.org.nz/research
