Lumen Summer 2016 - Flipbook - Page 26
story by Renée Capps and Genevieve Sanchez
A long history of
neurosurgical
support
The NeuroSurgical Research
Foundation (NRF) was founded
in 1963 by Dr Trevor Dinning to
promote research and improve
the diagnosis and treatment of
conditions of the brain, spinal
cord and nerves.
S
ince its inception, the foundation
has broadened its areas of research
to include various conditions such
as brain tumours, stroke, concussion,
spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease,
subarachnoid haemorrhage and sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The NRF shares a strong relationship
with the University of Adelaide, gifting
donations amounting to more than $5.3
million to fund important neurosurgical
research and equipment. It brings together
clinicians, engineers and scientists to
support a multidisciplinary approach to
improve diagnosis and treatment.
This unique combination of expertise
has led to significant advances in
knowledge, such as the discovery by
team pathologist Dr Peter Blumbergs
that mild blows to the head can damage
the brain. This breakthrough resulted in
a world-wide groundswell of interest in
brain damage in sporting injuries such as
Australian Rules Football.
24 Lumen | Summer 2016
The development of this multidisciplinary
team and its ability to attract neurosurgical
trainees to Adelaide is a proud achievement
for Dr Brian North, who has been
president of the foundation since 2004.
“We are combining practical and
scientific skills for neurosurgeon-scientists.
It is a big ask for someone trained in the
practical skills of operating on the brain to
also have highly developed scientific skills
in the laboratory. Combining the two is
quite an achievement,” said Brian.
After graduating with a medical degree
from the University, Brian undertook
neurosurgical training in Adelaide under
Dr Trevor Dinning and Professor Donald
Simpson, and was a trainee when the
NRF was founded in 1963. He completed
research training in Glasgow before
returning to Adelaide in 1973 where he
worked at Royal Adelaide Hospital and
the University.
Brian has been the driving force
behind securing many of the donations
for the foundation, notably establishing
the $800,000 Abbie Simpson
Clinical Fellowship to support clinical
neurosurgical research. He was also
involved in fundraising for equipment at
University of Adelaide, Flinders University
and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital,
and formalising the neurosurgical training
program in 2009.
After 11 years, Brian stepped down
as president this year. His successor
is Professor Robert Vink, an Adjunct
Professor at the University of Adelaide and
Pro Vice-Chancellor of Health Sciences
at the University of South Australia. Bob
says the foundation has identified a gap
in research into paediatrics and will fund
research at the University in this area.
“One of the deficiencies in neurosurgical research in Adelaide concerns
paediatrics and we would like to build that
up so the foundation will be making a gift
that focuses on paediatric neurosurgical
research this year.”
The NRF Paediatric Neurosurgical
Research Trust Fund will gift $1 million
