The Scott Sullivan Research Fellowship is a joint position between The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital (RBWH). It is supported by the generous philanthropic support of the MND and Me Foundation, Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation.
In addition to enhancing the existing collaborations between the RBWH and UQ, the primary purpose of this position is to develop a translational research program that bridges the clinical and basic sciences, with the ultimate aim of slowing the progression and/or curing Motor Neuron Disease.
Dr Shyuan Ngo has held the Fellowship since its inception in 2015 and concluded in March 2020. She conducts research between the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Queensland Brain Institute at UQ, and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the Wesley Hospital to address how changes in energy metabolism affects the course of MND, whilst working to develop therapies for MND.
Dr Ngo’s primary research focus is to understand the causes and consequences of metabolic dysfunction in MND. She is particularly interested in identifying which metabolic pathways are disrupted in MND/ALS and how targeting these pathways might correct for defective energy balance, and prolong survival.
During the five years of the Research Fellowship, Dr Ngo estimates the following statistics:
Lab Hours: ~60000
No of researchers: 18
Biological Samples taken: ~800
Research Patients: 120
Control Patients: 120
Experiments: Hundreds!! Can’t actually put a number on this one!
Papers Published: 24
Shu’s guaranteed Scott Sullivan Research Fellowship funding provided her the platform to build her MND research program from. She has now raised over $6 million in additional research funding which has led to many other research opportunities including a Phase 1 clinical trial due to commence at the end of 2020.
You can read the conclusion report for the Fellowship HERE.
As well as this you can read the periodical update reports: