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Huntington's disease researcher wins neuroscience award

Friday July 27, 2007

Monash University researcher Dr Phyllis Chua, has been awarded a Pfizer Australia Neuroscience (NSR) grant worth up to $55,000 for research into the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in Huntington’s Disease.

Dr Chua was acknowledged at the 5 th Annual Pfizer Australia NSR awards ceremony at the Sydney Hilton on Friday, July 27.

An Australian Physicians Independent Committee (APIC) determined the winning NSR grants for proposals for basic and clinical research across the broad field of neuroscience, including but not necessarily confined to psychiatry, pain medicine and neurology.

Dr Chua, explained that Huntington’s Disease is a genetic disease that produces a progressive movement disorder accompanied by psychiatric symptoms. Her research will study patients with the Huntington’s Disease gene in order to explore the possibility of finding a treatment.

Dr Chua said: “this study will investigate the usefulness of the dexamethsone-suppression-test and cortisol markers on HD onset. It will help us to understand the underlying disease process and its relationship to depression and cognitive deficits.”

For more information on the Pfizer Australia NSR Grants visit www.nsrgrants.com.au

Pfizer Australia is the nation’s leading research-based health care company. It develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical treatments for both humans and animals. Pfizer Australia is investing more than $45 million in local research and development. For more information visit the links on this website.