Neuroscience Research Australia

Neuroscience Research Australia (or 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
Established1991 (1991)
Research typeMedical research
DirectorProfessor Peter R Schofield
Faculty260
LocationSydney, New South Wales
CampusRandwick
NicknameNeuRA
AffiliationsUniversity of New South Wales
Websitewww.neura.edu.au
Peter R. Schofield

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:

NeuRA also houses research centres, including the Sydney 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; with the first stage of 13,000 square metres (140,000 sq ft) designed by COX Architecture completed in 2013 at a cost of A$40 million.[9]

The completed Neuroscience Research Precinct will provide six stories of laboratory and clinical research space, providing 25,000 square metres (270,000 sq ft) of floor space and housing up to 700 researchers, delivered in four stages.[8]

In 2018, NeuRA formed a cooperative partnership of four clinical, educational and research allies, including Black Dog Institute, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and UNSW Sydney to create Mindgardens Neuroscience Network which became the largest collaboration between researchers and clinicians in the Southern Hemisphere on brain disorders.[10] Professor Peter Schofield became Mindgardens' Interim Co-CEO.[10]

In November 2018, NeuRA’s team of neuroscientists led by George Paxinos reported a finding of a new region of the human brain which they called the endorestiform nucleus. The group adopted an innovative enhanced staining method.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Neuroscience Research Australia launches new identity". Neuroscience Research Australia. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  2. "Neuroscience Research Australia Annual Report" (PDF). Neuroscience Research Australia. 2009.
  3. "NHMRC ACCREDITED INSTITUTES & NHMRC ACCREDITED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH INSTITUTES" (PDF). National Health and Medical Research Council. 31 December 2010.
  4. see https://www.neura.edu.au/about/leadership/
  5. see https://www.neura.edu.au/scientific-facility/sydneybrainbank/
  6. see http://www.neura.edu.au/GRA
  7. see http://www.osmr.nsw.gov.au/state_of_research/health/view.php?id=93 Archived 13 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "New Neuroscience research precinct receives approval" (PDF) (Press release). Government of New South Wales. 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  9. "Neuroscience Research Australia". Projects. COX Architecture. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  10. "Brain disorders cost Australians $74 billion per annum". hospitalhealth.com.au. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  11. "Scientists Report Discovery of New Region of the Human Brain". interestingengineering.com. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
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