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8 The Neurological Foundation Paving the way for brain research in Aotearoa In the early years, the Neurological Foundation provided the critical funding to establish our human brain research on Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease which was made possible by the invaluable support from families touched by these diseases. These families generously donated the brains of their loved ones after death for us to pursue innovative research. By the mid- 1990’s, we had collected and pursued research on over 50 human brains. We had in fact unconsciously set up a “human brain bank” in partnership with the wonderful donor families and supported by hospital neurologists and neurosurgeons who provided us with the vital clinical details for each of the human brain donations. In 1994 the Neurological Foundation generously agreed to fund our small growing human brain bank. It was incredibly generous and a milestone for human brain research in New Zealand! In recognition of their vital support we called our brain bank “The Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank”. Distinguished Professor, Sir Richard Faull is the Founder and Director of the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank. He is also Distinguished Professor of Anatomy and Director of the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland. I have had the great privilege and opportunity of pursuing an unexpectedly exciting career in brain research spanning over 40 years at the University of Auckland. The success of my brain research endeavours have been due in large measure to the wonderful and vital support from the Neurological Foundation. With the help of their supporters, they have generously funded and supported our major initiatives in brain research for the last 40 years at the University of Auckland which have enabled us to become world leaders in research on the human brain. The human brain bank not only provides tissue for brain researchers throughout New Zealand but also for leading overseas research groups. These groups work in collaboration with New Zealand researchers to undertake innovative and ground-breaking research on neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Motor Neuron diseases, brain cancer, epilepsy and schizophrenia. We often describe our brain bank as the “best little brain bank in the world” because not only have we developed world leading methods for processing, documenting and storing the tissue, but most importantly with the support of families, we know the very detailed clinical and family history of every brain. The research resulting from studies on our human brain tissue has been world leading. Most importantly, over the last 50 years, the Neurological Foundation has played a major role in transforming and expanding brain research at the University of Auckland. In the early 1970’s when the Neurological Foundation was in its infancy, there were less than five brain research groups at the University of Auckland and the Foundation provided a total of $158,646 in research support between 1971 and 1980. Since then, thanks to the generosity of all its supporters, the Foundation has grown its funding base enormously and this has been a major factor in growing and developing brain research at the University of Auckland. The future of brain research is totally dependent on attracting the very best young minds to pursue innovative and cutting-edge brain research. The Neurological Foundation has been committed to training and retaining the very best young and early career neuroscientists to be the leaders of tomorrow for brain research in New Zealand. I congratulate and thank the Neurological Foundation and all your supporters from the bottom of my heart for your extraordinary support and commitment to pushing back the frontiers of brain research in New Zealand over the last 50 years and look forward to your continuing support in the future. photograph by Adrian Malloch