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14 Headlines Dr Peter Freestone is a researcher whose career is inextricably linked with the generosity of Neurological Foundation supporters. He received the Foundation’s first- ever summer studentship back in 2002 and has been funded several times since then. N ow, nearly 22 years after stepping onto the research pathway, he’s mentoring students of his own. Where he once followed, he now leads – a responsibility he takes seriously and absolutely loves. Peter grew up in Greenhithe and went to Glenfield College. His music teacher’s husband worked in the physiology department at the University of Auckland. In typical Kiwi style, Peter’s father phoned him and organised a visit for his then 17-year-old son. “Dad arranged for me to come in for a couple of days during the holidays. I was just fascinated,” says Peter. At that time, Professor Gary Housley – now at the University of New South Wales – was bringing in whole-cell patch clamping (electrophysiology) to the university. “I was there when he was trying to get it going. Being science, it didn’t work – but I was there for two days watching the process,” says Peter, smiling. He was hooked. He finished school and got into biomedical science, but always knew he did not want to be a medical doctor. “I liked the experience in the lab. I was drawn to technology – doing stuff, seeing new techniques being established, understanding how things work.” To this day, the lab is Peter’s happy place. “It comes back to techniques that let you see in real time the brain doing what the brain does. For example, when you’re studying brain tissue you can hear electrical activity – you can hear them firing. You are right there, on the edge.” Peter did his undergraduate degree then, in 2002, was awarded a summer studentship to be in the lab of (now Emeritus) Professor Janusz Lipski, who was applying electrophysiology to study degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Peter was thrilled to be there. “That’s what I had wanted to do since 6th form.” He had been in labs during his undergraduate studies but this was his first proper research. “I loved and enjoyed that time.” He found Professor Lipski inspiring, and still looks at him as a role model. “My desire is that I teach my students as well as he taught me.” Peter studied 6-hydroxydopamine – a neurotoxin that’s widely used to induce models of Parkinson's Disease – searching for the reason why dopamine neurons are so vulnerable. He went on to do his Honours and then, with support of the Neurological Foundation Miller Scholarship, he completed his PhD. Supported by a Neurological Foundation Philip Wrightson Fellowship, he then headed to Research Fondazione Santa Lucia, a research institute in Rome, to work with Professor Nicola Mercuri, one of the world leaders in dopamine research. “I submitted my PhD on Tuesday and got on a plane to Italy on Wednesday,” says Peter. MENTORING THE NEXT From summer student to