Neuroscience Research Australia

Neuroscience Research Australia (also known as NeuRA) is an independent medical research institute based in Sydney, Australia. Previously called the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, the institute relaunched as Neuroscience Research Australia on 1 June 2010.^[1],^[2] NeuRA is accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council.^[3]

Neuroscience Research Australia is made up of approximately 260 researchers specialising in research on the brain and nervous system in health and disease.

The current executive director is Professor Peter R Schofield^[4].

Research activity

NeuRA’s research activity is organised into five themes:

• Ageing and neurodegeneration: Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia, Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone Disease, ageing research in indigenous populations, stroke rehabilitation

• Brain function and imaging: brain mapping for research and clinical use, on-site MRI scanning

• Neural injury: spinal cord injury, assessment and prevention of road trauma in children

• Mental illness: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism

• Sensation, movement, balance and falls: human movement, fatigue, sleep apnoea, balance and vision, neural control of muscles, falls in older adults, chronic pain

NeuRA also houses research centres, including the Brain Bank^[5] and Genetic Repositories Australia^[6].

History

NeuRA was established in 1991 by Professor Ian McCloskey, Professor David Burke, Professor Simon Gandevia and Professor Erica Potter with the support of the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (now South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service) and the University of New South Wales.

In 1993 the institute was established as an independent, not-for-profit company^[7] and researchers moved into buildings on the site of the old Randwick Chest Hospital, next to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. It was officially opened on 8 November 1993 by the Commonwealth Minister for Health Graham Richardson and the NSW Minister for Health Ron Phillips.

On 15 November 2000, the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, officially opened the new sections of the institute.

In June 2009 the Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay opened the Prince Henry Wing extension.

In March 2010, the NSW government gave planning approval to the concept and project plans for a Neuroscience Research Precinct to be built on the existing site.^[8] Building works began on the first phase of the project in March 2010.

Future expansion

The completed Neuroscience Research Precinct will provide six stories of laboratory and clinical research space, providing 25,000m2 of floor space and housing up to 700 researchers^[9].

References

1. ^ "Neuroscience Research Australia launches new identity". Neuroscience Research Australia. 1 June 2010. http://www.neura.edu.au/news-events/news/neuroscience-research-australia-launches-new-identity. Retrieved 8 June 2010. 
2. ^ see Neuroscience Research Australia Annual Report 2009 at http://www.neura.edu.au/sites/neura.edu.au/files/page-downloads/NeuRA-Annual-Report-2009.pdf
3. ^ see NHMRC ACCREDITED INSTITUTES & NHMRC ACCREDITED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH INSTITUTES, Endorsed until 31 December 2010 at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/grants/policy/nhmrc_accredited_institutes_dec_2009.pdf
4. ^ see http://www.neura.edu.au/about/people/leadership
5. ^ see http://www.neura.edu.au/research/facilities/brain-bank
6. ^ see http://www.neura.edu.au/GRA
7. ^ see http://www.osmr.nsw.gov.au/state_of_research/health/view.php?id=93
8. ^ see NSW Office for Science and Medical Research news at http://www.osmr.nsw.gov.au/__data/page/277/100305_new_neuroscience_research_precinct_receives_approval.pdf
9. ^ see NSW Office for Science and Medical Research news at http://www.osmr.nsw.gov.au/__data/page/277/100305_new_neuroscience_research_precinct_receives_approval.pdf

External links

• Neuroscience Research Australia website