The Friends of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation thank you for celebrating the 16th Annual Gala Ball & Auction.  With your generosity and the combined efforts of many people, we raised over $310, 000 for world renowned neuroscience research at The RMH 

Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne

The Trustees of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation are pleased to announce a prestigious neuroscience research fellowship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne commencing in 2009.

The Warren Haynes Neuroscience Research Fellowship is a one- to three-year tenure medical fellowship program offered through the Foundation.  The Warren Haynes Fellowship application and guidelines are available by clicking here. 

The RMH is an internationally recognised centre for basic and clinical neuroscience research, including investigator-driven trials. We aim to provide an experience that incorporates training in clinical neurosciences. The fellow would play an active role in our busy neuroscience unit.

This fellowship is reserved for individuals with a major interest in an academic and clinical career in the neurosciences at the RMH, and for those who want to conduct substantial research projects during their fellowship. One major clinical or basic science project is expected to be completed by the fellow. The project is supervised by one or more members of the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. The fellow is expected to present the results of the research annually, as well as submit abstracts to national and international meetings.

For an application guide please email neuro.foundation@mh.org.au

Enquiries may be directed to

Professor Stephen Davis, Professor of Department of Neurology - (03) 9342 8448

Professor Andrew Kaye, Professor of Department of Neurosurgery - (03) 9342 8218

Peter Davis, Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation - (03) 9342 8447

"Professor Davis' opinion is eagerly sought and he leads a highly successful stroke research program that is recognised both nationally and internationally," Mr Andrews said.

"However, it is not only length of service or positions of responsibility that define him but his outstanding commitment to and passion for his patients, for the hospital he feels so proud of, its vital role in caring for the community and his belief in the importance of educating, training and mentoring the young, who will ultimately continue his work."

This complete refurbishment and renovation of this laboratory has been generously funded by a donation from John T. Reid Charitable Trusts to The Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation.

"We are extremely grateful for the considerable support given to the neurosciences at The Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation over many years by the John T. Reid Charitable Trusts." said Professor Andrew Kaye, Director of Neurosurgery at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Trustee of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation.      

The new laboratory located within the Department of Surgery at The University of Melbourne will undertake important research advancing the understanding of tumour growth and tumour spread. 

Mrs Margaret Ross AM, Chairman of John T. Reid Charitable Trusts will open the Cancer Signaling Laboratory. 

If it is, it means that doctors would have more time  - potentially double the existing three hours from the onset of symptoms - in which to administer the drug and limit the extent of irreversible brain damage.

In an international study led by Stephen Davis, Director of Neurology at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Professor of Neurology at the University of Melbourne and Professor Geoffrey Donnan, Head of the National Stroke Research Institute at the Austin Hospital, it was found that the drug - the only current licensed therapy for acute ischemic stroke - had positive effects for some patients, even if administered after three hours from the onset of symptoms.

"The drug, alteplase, is currently approved for use only within three hours of the onset of symptoms of stroke. This study sought to assess the benefits and risks of extending its administration beyond three hours, using MRI brain scans to help in patient selection," said Professor Davis.

"The outcome of our study suggests that the window of opportunity for treating some ischemic stroke victims could be widened considerably and certainly supports further studies into extending the time window for this drug," he said.

Researchers at 15 centres in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and Scotland collated data from 1,224 ischemic stroke victims in the study.

The finding was presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in New Orleans and published in The Lancet Neurology.

Media contact: Rod Jackson-Smith 0417 156 214

considered "The Signs of Death" at the request of the Pope.

Prof Davis was one of 28 international experts and was the only representative from Australia. The gathering included neurologists, neurocritical care specialists, other expert physicians, ethicists, theologians and cardinals.

The two-day meeting aimed to clarify the concept of brain death in the intensive care era. It discussed the

criteria, diagnosis and timing of death, and also the persistent vegetative and minimally conscious state.

Prof Davis presented a paper on the minimally conscious state and the prospects for late neural repair.

"For me, this was a fascinating and unique experience," Prof Davis said.

The medical experts were in consensus that the criteria for brain death were valid. They emphasised there had never

been a recovery of any patient who had been declared brain dead. The discussions were reported to the Pope and the proceedings will be published.