Governing Board
Professor Bryant Stokes (Chair)
Dr Terry Bayliss
Professor Ian Puddey
Ms Suzi Cowcher
Mr Tim Doncon
Professor John Finlay-Jones
Mr Graeme Prior
Professor Linda Kristjanson
Dr Ann Zubrick
Professor Ralph Martins
Mr Manoj Agarwal (Secretary)
Chairman
Chair of the Governing Board is Professor Bryant Stokes, a distinguished neurosurgeon and a leader in Australasian healthcare. He has held the positions of Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Western Australia, Consultant Neurosurgeon at several metropolitan hospitals, Professor of Anatomy at Notre Dame University, member of the Board of Directors Western Australian Institute of Medical Research, and Director of the Medical Research Foundation Royal Perth Hospital.
In addition to his expertise in neuroscience, Professor Stokes has made significant contributions in the areas of safety and quality, and leadership in healthcare management. This aligns with the Centre’s focus on the areas of both research and care.
Board Members
The Governing Board consists of:
- Professor John Finlay-Jones, Edith Cowan University;
- Professor Ian Puddey, The University of Western Australia;
- Mr Graeme Prior, Hall & Prior Aged Care Organisation;
- Ms Suzi Cowcher, Amana Living;
- Mr Tim Doncon, The McCusker Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease Research;
- Dr Terry Bayliss, Hollywood Private Hospital;
- Professor Linda Kristjanson, Independent;
- Dr Ann Zubrick; Independent;
The Centre Director, Professor Ralph Martins, serves as an ex officio member of the Board.
Centre Executive
Professor Ralph Martins, Foundation Chair Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease at ECU, was appointed the Director of the Centre. Ralph Martins graduated from University of Western Australia a PhD in 1986. In 1987 he won a scholarship to Heidelberg University to work with Konrad Beyreuther. His collaborative seminal research involved isolating and characterising B-amyloid and its precursor, the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which are now recognized as central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
He was the first to propose and demonstrate that the Alzheimer brain was under oxidative stress, which is now widely recognized by the Alzheimer research community. In 1989 he joined Prof Masters at Melbourne University where he was the first to isolate and characterize the molecular components of the neuropathological hallmarks of AD. This led to an international patent and formation of a spin-off company, Alzhyme Pty Ltd. In 2001 he won a Media Fellowship with the ABC and was the first Media Fellow to have his work on the Science Show. In 2002 he was won a Biotechnology Innovation Fund grant, which was matched by commercial funding. He established the Sir James McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Unit at Hollywood Hospital, whose research is directed at the cause(s), and development of diagnostics and treatments. He received the UWA "Excellence in Teaching Award - Post Grad. Research" for 2002 and in 2003 was appointed Snr Editor, for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Editorial Board Member for Current Drug Targets CNS & Neurological Disease.
Edith Cowan University appointed him to the Inaugural Chair, Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease in 2004. He has Adjunct Professorial positions and close ties with clinical academics with both UWA and Thomas Jefferson University’s Farber Neurosciences Institute. He is instigator and director of the state government funded Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care composed of researchers from 4 universities, 3 hospitals and 2 healthcare providers.
The Director is supported by Mr Manoj Agarwal, Centre Manager.
