Pioneering Brain Work Wins Medal

26/06/2012 Pioneering Brain Work Wins Medal

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Professor Richard Faull has been awarded the Rutherford Medal, the highest honour for New Zealand scientists, for his contributions to brain research.

Professor Richard Faull, Rutherford Medallist

Professor Richard Faull has been awarded the Rutherford Medal, the highest honour for New Zealand scientists, for his contributions to brain research. Professor Faull, of the Department of Anatomy with Radiology in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, has been a member of the University of Auckland for 29 years. He graduated in medicine from the University of Otago in 1970, before studying for a PhD in neuroscience at The University of Auckland, graduating in 1975. Professor Faull is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading expert on the anatomy and chemistry of the mammalian brain and on neurodegenerative diseases of the human brain. His publication record and research spans 35 years and encompasses all major regions of the brain and spinal cord, as well as the science of the diseased human brain in Huntington's, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy and schizophrenia. He has a track record of landmark publications in prestigious neuroscience journals which provide novel and important definitive new findings on the anatomy, pathology and stem cell repair in the human brain. His research provided the first evidence that the diseased human brain can repair itself by the generation of new brain cells, and in a 2007 landmark paper in Science showed for the very first time the pathway for new brain cells in the human brain. Professor Faull founded and established The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand Human Brain Bank, an internationally recognised resource within the University providing tissue for leading research programmes in New Zealand and overseas on Huntington's, Parkinson's, Epilepsy and Alzheimer's diseases. His research group has established the first large animal transgenic model of a human brain disease (Huntington’s disease) in the world which will provide opportunities for the development of new treatment approaches for neurodegenerative diseases of the human brain. His research programme has strong community links with extensive interactions with patients, families and communities affected by brain disease. Professor Faull’s research has been strongly supported by the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand and by Freemasons New Zealand via the Freemasons Charity and the Roskill Foundation. In addition to these lead funders, Professor Faull’s research team is hugely indebted to the major NZ science and research backers such as the Health Research Council, Marsden Fund and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, but even more importantly, to the individuals and families who support neurological research at all levels through the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Professor Faull is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. In 2005 he was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and was awarded the prestigious Liley Medal by the Health Research Council of New Zealand for outstanding contributions to medical research.

The Rutherford Medal

The Rutherford Medal is the highest award given by the Royal Society of New Zealand to recognise and honour those who have made exceptional contributions to New Zealand society and culture through activities in the broad fields of science, mathematics, social science, and technology. The award recognises a significant contribution to the advancement and promotion of public awareness, knowledge and understanding in addition to eminent research or technological practice by a person or group in any field of science, mathematics, social science, or technology. Previous Rutherford Medallists The Gold Medal was renamed the Rutherford Medal in 2000 and all the previous medals are referred to as the Rutherford Medal as well. 1991 Professor Vaughan Jones DCNZM Hon FRSNZ 1992 DSIR Group Award 1993 Professor Roy Kerr FRSNZ 1994 Dr Ian Axford Hon FRSNZ 1995 Professor William Denny ONZM FRSNZ and Auckland Cancer Research Laboratory 1996 No award 1997 Emeritus Professor Thomas (John) Walker 1998 Dr William Robinson FRSNZ 1999 Professor David Vere-Jones FRSNZ 2000 Professor Alan MacDiarmid ONZ FRS Hon FRSNZ 2001 Professor Peter Gluckman CNZM FRS FRSNZ 2002 Professor Jeff Tallon FRSNZ 2003 Professor George Petersen ONZM FRSNZ 2004 Professor David Penny CNZM FRSNZ 2005 Professor Paul Callaghan PCNZM FRS FRSNZ 2006 Professor Ted Baker FRSNZ

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L to R: President of the Board of Benevolence RW Bro Mark Winger, President of the Freemasons Roskill Foundation MW BroDavid Mace, and Pro. Richard Faull (seated).

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