|

NZ Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation (NZPERF) Projects
NZPERF welcomes applications from pharmacists from all areas of the profession who require financial support to undertake practice related research, which on completion will benefit pharmacy in New Zealand.
If you have a project in mind then now is the time to submit your application.
For further details, application form and guidelines see below on this page under "guidelines for applicants".
or contact Wayne Wood, NZPERF Admin on telephone 04 802 0038 or email: w.wood@psnz.org.nz
PLEASE NOTE: Applications close on 20 October 2011
NZ Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation
The New Zealand Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation (NZPERF) was established in 1967 as a charitable trust for the benefit of the pharmacy profession. Originally established with a seeding grant from the Pharmaceutical Society, the Foundation has sought and attracted tax deductible grants and donations from pharmacists and from members of the pharmaceutical industry. These funds have been invested by honorary Trustees who manage the fund, which currently stands at over $3 million.
The interest and dividends received from the fund's investments are allocated to applicants by a Foundation Board that meets in May and November each year. In addition to grants for specific projects, the Foundation also funds some specific Prizes.
The purposes of NZPERF are:
to assist in funding the development of pharmacy education in New Zealand;
to assist in funding research into the science and practice of pharmacy;
to ensure that New Zealand pharmacists have the opportunity to remain at the forefront of their profession.
NZPERF Trustees
The Trustees are Alan Fraser, Ron Rosenberg, Peter Stannard, Ian Lawrence, Barry Clevely, Brian Johnston, Gordon Ritson and Mike Seymour.
NZPERF Board
The Foundation Board comprises representatives of the Society (Andrew Orange, Paul Larson and Ann Privett) NZHPA (Lorraine Welman) and the pharmaceutical educational institutions Otago School of Pharmacy Representative (Natalie Medlicott) and Auckland School of Pharmacy (Janie Sheridan).
Carolyn Hooper, Professional Services Manager of the Pharmaceutical Society, is the Secretary of NZPERF.
The Trustees and Board members give their services and time freely without fees or allowances.
Making a Donation to NZPERF
Donations to NZPERF are tax deductible and all pharmacists and pharmacies are invited to consider including a donation with their Society membership fees each year. Such monies are treated as capital and invested in the Trust Fund. Donations can be sent to NZPERF, PO Box 11640, Manners Street, Wellington 6142. Pharmacists when reviewing their Will may wish to consider making a bequest or legacy to the NZ Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation.
Thank you to all who donated in 2010
Project Applications
The Foundation welcomes applications from pharmacists from all areas of the profession who want support to undertake practice-related research. Examples of recent grants awarded include:
Recent research that has been allocated funding includes:
- Access to pharmacy services: investigating changes over time in the number and location of pharmacies.
- Medicines in the context of older people's lives
- Advances in pulmonary drug carriers creating new opportunities for inhaling medicines
- Identification of biomarkers of biological aging to predict drug clearance in the elderly
- A comparison of the dose individualisation methods for warfarin therapy.
- Determination of levels of pharmaceuticals in water systems
- Rapid detection of counterfeit and adulterated products using vibrational spectroscopy
- General Practitioners' perceptions of issues concerning access to medicines in New Zealand
- An exploratory study in measuring medication safety in New Zealand Hospitals
- Rural placements for Bpharm students: dealing with the barriers
- Prescribing opioid substitution treatment: Is there a role for Pharmacists in New Zealand
- Evaluation of an on-line training course for the provision of opioid substitution treatment by community pharmacists
- Implementation of Clinical Pharmacy Services in a Community Pharmacy environment within the Hokonui PHO population and sharing of knowledge gained
Each year the NZPERF Board provides funding for six summer studentships – three at Otago University and three at Auckland University.
The research projects undertaken in the 2010/2011 summer break were:
- Pharmacy Assistants: quantifying factors that affect decision making
- Improved parenteral drug delivery system for a poorly soluble drug
- Antioxidant delivery to the lens for prevention of cataract formation
- Evaluation of the effect of erythroprotein on the lifespan of red blood cells
- Evaluating pharmacist-led education sessions for nurses on administering medicines via feeding tubes
- Where do people store medicines and why?
The Trust Deed specifies that the purpose of the Foundation is to stimulate advances in pharmacy education and research in New Zealand. Thus, grants are only made when the Board is of the opinion that the completion of the project will benefit pharmacy in this country. The Board does not normally fund applications for travel expenses incurred in the process of completing projects.
Guidelines For Applicants
All applications including the cover sheet must be typed, using the link NZPERF Grant Application form and Guidelines. These can also be obtained from the NZPERF Secretary.
Please note that you now need to indicate whether or not
ethics approval has been obtained for your research.
Applications must be submitted by 20th April or 20th October of each year.
It is important that the completed application form complies with the requirements specified in the grant application guidelines. If deadlines are not met grant applicants/holders risk ongoing and future funding.
If a person is applying for funding for education they need to show evaluation of outcomes and how these will be applied to pharmacy in New Zealand and not just personal development.
A person who applies for a grant to undertake study overseas will be required to give an assurance that if a grant is made, he or she will return to New Zealand and remain involved with the profession of pharmacy for a subsequent period to be specified by the Board at the time the grant is awarded.
Conducting Pharmacy Practice Research
The PSNZ library has a book titled Conducting Pharmacy Practice Research written by Dr Felicity Smith, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy University of London. This book provides a step-by-step, easy to read guide for first time researchers, new to pharmacy practice research, on how to prepare, plan, conduct and manage their research projects. It also covers how to write the final research report and disseminate the findings.
Contact Caroline Joyce the PSNZ librarian at c.joyce@psnz.org.nz for details about borrowing or purchasing a copy of this book.
Scholarships
NZPERF is not currently funding applications for PhD scholarships.
Prizes
In addition to grants for specific projects, the Foundation sponsors summer studentships, awards for best conference presentations and best intern assignments:
- NZHPA Conference - $500 to the Best paper overall.
- Intern Training Programme - Patient-Centred Care Assignments - Top two assignments: $500 each (plus publication of the paper in a New Zealand pharmacy publication).
For further information contact: The Secretary, New Zealand Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation, PO Box 11640, Manners Street, Wellington 6142. Phone 04 802 0030, Fax 04 382 9297, E-mail: p.society@psnz.org.nz
|