Thousands turned up to the annual Brain Foundation Christmas Fair at the jockey club to pick up some gifts and raise some funding.

This year money raised at the fair will specifically sponsor Brain Foundation research grant recipient Lucinda McRobb.

Dr McRobb is a scientist with over 25 years of research experience in microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology and cell signalling, with a primary focus in the area of vascular disease.

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"We are very excited to have been awarded this gift from the Brain Foundation and the people from Tamworth and surrounds," Dr McRobb said.

"Without this sort of seed funding it is very difficult to get new research projects off the ground."

Dr McRobb's research is focused on a blood vessel disorder (arteriovenous malformations) which can lead to strokes.

"This form of stroke occurs primarily in children and young adults, rather than as a result of aging, so has a significant impact on affected individuals and their families," she said.

"Despite current approaches, one-third of these vulnerable young patients lack safe treatment options and remain susceptible to stroke.

"To fill this gap, we aim to develop a vascular targeting approach to AVM treatment.

"This involves delivering a drug through the bloodstream to induce localised clotting and closure of the diseased AVM vessels."

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