ANZAN Education And Research Foundation

Background

The Australian & New Zealand Association of Neurologists Education and Research Foundation ABN 21 303 168 080 (Foundation) was established as an incorporated association in 2001 to raise funds and receive bequests for research into specific neurological diseases. 

In October 2025, the Foundation changed its structure to a company limited by guarantee registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and changed its purposes to satisfy the requirements for the Foundation to apply for registration as a charity with the health promotion charity subtype.

The Foundation’s purpose is to operate as a health promotion charity by assisting to control diseases of the human nervous system, including without limitation, by:

1. engaging in, supporting and funding research into the prevention, identification, diagnoses and treatment of diseases of the nervous system and to advance the knowledge and understanding of the nervous system and its diseases either on its own account or in conjunction with any public hospital, university or other institute;
2. facilitating in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists ABN 22 007 221 301, the provision and coordination of training in respect of the treatment and control of neurological diseases including by developing education programmes for hospital staff and medical practitioners;
3. providing assistance to any public hospital, university or other institute engaged in conducting any research project into neurological disorders and to assist with the provision of such employees, plant and equipment used, or to be used, in connection with any such project; and
4. raising awareness and promoting community education in relation to brain health and the symptoms and treatment of neurological disorders and diseases.

Almost all neurologists in Australia and New Zealand are members of the Foundation and many are deeply involved in such research as well as the management of neurological illnesses. 

With this resource and the network of affiliated and associated research interest groups such as the Epilepsy Society of Australasia, the National Stroke Foundation and Multiple Sclerosis Australia, to mention a few, the Foundation is well placed to be able to foster research into the prevention, identification, diagnoses and treatment of diseases of the nervous system and to direct research monies to areas of need. Including to public hospitals, universities and other institutes engaged in conducting any research project into neurological disorders. 

The Foundation also provides and coordinates the provision of training in respect of the treatment and control of neurological diseases including by developing education programmes for hospital staff and medical practitioners and funds and conducts programs that raise awareness and educate the community in relation to brain health and the symptoms and treatment of neurological disorders and diseases.

Operation

Australia

The Foundation is managed by a Board which comprises the current Council of ANZAN including the President. 

There Foundation operates two principal subcommittees:

(1) The Scientific Advisory Committee which receives and reviews applications for research projects (see below), and

(2) The Development Committee which is responsible for raising funds.

The Scientific Advisory Committee operates in line with the NH&MRC grant system.  Broadly when general or specific research monies are available applications for grants are invited from eligible recipients throughout Australia including scientific and research institutions as well as members of ANZAN. 

Project applications are then sent to external referees and graded, and reports and approvals are sought from the responsible institutional ethics committees. 

The Scientific Advisory Committee then selects the projects to be funded and informs the applicants of their decision. 

Grants are administered in the same way as those awarded by the NH&MRC including the level of remuneration for the research workers.  Financial reports are required from the administering research institution which oversees the expenditure of the grants.  Publications in scientific journals and presentations at scientific meetings are required to acknowledge the contribution of the Foundation as the source of the funding and at the termination of the grant final reports are required to be submitted.

New Zealand

Neurology Post Graduate Scholarship

The Foundation also provides to provide support outstanding neurology trainees or neurologists early in their career so they can be trained to conduct research in respect of the treatment and control of neurological diseases that is internationally competitive and develop a capacity for original independent research. The scholarships are funded collaboratively by the Foundation, the Neurological Foundation, the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), and the Neurological Association of New Zealand (NANZ).
Advice Sheet

Methods of Fundraising

Funds are raised from the following sources:

1. Donations from Foundation members;
2. Specific fundraising activities;
3. Bequests;
4. Donations from the public to support the Foundation’s purpose; and
5. Donations from the public to support research and training funded and conducted by the Foundation in respect of specific conditions, eg. for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, peripheral nerve disease, myaesthenia gravis, etc

Endowments and bequests for specific research projects in respect of the treatment and control of neurological diseases will need to fund the individual conducting the research for a minimum period of one year which, with on-costs and materials, will be at least $50,000 per annum. 

The opportunity for smaller amounts to be specifically targeted or tied are limited to small research projects in respect of the treatment and control of neurological diseases which can be completed within a short time frame or seeding grants, and are usually treated as a general bequest. 

Conclusion

The Foundation performs an important role by funding research into the treatment and control of neurological diseases and providing and co-ordinating education programs for the public and medical practitioners. 

Not only are the Foundation’s members dealing first hand with the illnesses clinically, many are actively engaged in the study of the treatment and control of neurological diseases.  The research funded by the Foundation complements research funded by other agencies but also facilitates the targeting of specific research in respect of the treatment and control of neurological diseases through specific and general bequests.

Australian Association of Neurologists Education and Research Foundation

145 Macquarie Street
SYDNEY  NSW  2000
Tel: 02 9169 4894
Email: anzan@anzan.org.au