TCD Neuroscientists Receive Funding to Explore the Causes of Amnesia and Delirium
Posted on: 16 September 2010
The Wellcome Trust has awarded Professor Shane O’Mara, Director of Trinity College’s Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN), funding to conduct research work into the brain mechanisms underlying amnesia. Additionally, a prestigious Senior Research Fellowship was awarded to Dr Colm Cunningham, a research lecturer in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, for his research work on delirium. Their research will result in inter-institutional collaborations with the hope of advancing treatments and diagnosis for conditions that result in cognitive decline.
Speaking about the awards Professor Shane O’Mara said: “Recent studies into amnesia have revealed certain triggers that are most commonly associated with the condition. By researching the anatomical and electrophysiological functioning of the brain my team hopes to reveal the mechanisms that underlie the inability to learn new day-to-day information in those with amnesia.” Dr Colm Cunningham continued: “The Wellcome Trust award has given me the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at Oxford and Southampton Universities. Our current research aims to advance our understanding of cognitive functioning in order to produce more complete explanations for the onset of delirium in the aged.”
The Wellcome Trust is a global charity that aims to support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. As well as tackling current medical and biomedical issues, the Wellcome Trust’s long-term perspective aims to support research that will benefit future generations. The aim of Professor O’Mara’s project grant is to provide funding for a high-quality, hypothesis-driven project, which is relevant to human health. The Senior Research Fellowship scheme provides support for outstanding postdoctoral scientists who have an excellent track record in their scientific field and are able to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research.