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Searching for new treatments for conditions like Alzheimers and Huntington’s Disease will be the focus for Jennifer Palmer of Stanmore Bay when she heads to Cambridge University next year.
Recently, she was awarded a three-year Cambridge Rutherford Memorial PhD scholarship – one of only two awarded this year.
It will enable her to complete her PhD at Cambridge University, where she will investigate treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Her study may help move things forward from the current therapies available, which only treat symptoms and are unable to prevent underlying disease progression.
Jennifer has been interested in this field of work for many years.
“Scientifically, they present a tremendous challenge, especially to an ageing society,” Jennifer says. “Personally, I was exposed to neurodegenerative disease research rather young when my Grandma was diagnosed with vascular dementia – she passed away earlier this year. I also saw the stigma around neurodegenerative diseases and how people assume dementia symptoms are part of normal ageing. In fact dementia is quite different to normal ageing and those facing these conditions deserve to keep their independence and be able to spend time with their grandchildren. So I’ve been motivated for many years to try and understand more about these diseases so that we can improve the quality of life for people living with these conditions.”
The former Orewa College dux last featured in Hibiscus Matters in 2015 when, as a student, she won the premier award of the Eureka competition – the first college student, and female, to do so.
Since 2016, Jennifer has been studying neuroscience at Otago University.
She hopes, “Covid-willing” to move to the UK to begin study at Cambridge next September. Meanwhile she will continue working in one of the Otago University labs.
