22 December 1998

Foundation provides $161,000 for University research in 1999

Research into Brisbane's urbanisation, regulation of company takeovers and autistic children's understanding of emotion are among projects attracting $161,000 in grants from the University of Queensland Foundation Ltd next year.

Foundation chair Bill Palmer said eight University research projects would receive funding under the 1999 research program.

The Foundation was established to generate funds to support University research projects and over the past 14 years has provided more than $1.8 million as seed funding for 98 projects.

Mr Palmer said Foundation members were very pleased to be associated with this year's projects encompassing a wide range of disciplines. The projects are:

o China's Southeast Asia Relations, $10,000, Professor Martin Stuart-Fox (History Department);

o Coated cholesterol-lecithin granules: a novel strategy to deliver recombinant antigens, $41,000, Dr Rogan Lee (Parasitology Department) Dr Richard Prankerd (Pharmacy Department);

o Peptidostarands - a new and novel class of organic compound, $16,000, Dr Ross McGeary (Centre for Drug Design and Development);

o Regulation of company takeovers in Australia - the role of economic rationale, $19,000, David Morrison (School of Law);

o Measuring and understanding processes and outcomes of reurbanisation transforming Brisbane's inner suburbs, $33,000, Professor Bob Stimson (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Geographical Sciences Department) and Dr Patrick Mullins (Anthropology and Sociology Department);

o The effects of pallidotomy surgery for Parkinson's Disease on motor speech function, $20,000, Dr Deborah Theodoros, Dr Liz Ward and Professor Bruce Murdoch (Speech Pathology and Audiology Department);

o Autistic children's understanding of emotion, $16,000, Dr Virginia Slaughter (School of Psychology), Dr Betty Repacholi (School of Behavioural Sciences, Macquarie University).

o Changes in joint sensation and muscle function following knee joint injury or disease: implications for rehabilitation, $6000, Dr Joanne Bullock-Saxton (Physiotherapy Department);

The Foundation received more than $23,580 from the University's 1998 Annual Appeal, taking the value of its trust fund to $2.6 million. Income earned on fund investments is subsequently allocated to fund University research projects. The capital base is preserved for the benefit of future researchers.

Donations to the Foundation can be made either directly to the University's Development Office or through the Annual Appeal. The Appeal provides a facility for donors wishing to direct funds to the Foundation.

For more information, contact the Foundation's Office (telephone 07 3365 1148).