DOCUMENT

16 Headlines Why did you decide to become a researcher? I have always been curious, constantly asking the ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. Despite having two engineer parents, I was far more fascinated by biology than physics and calculus. My passion for biomedical research was kick-started by a project on the ethics of human cell cloning. I loved thoroughly investigating and presenting arguments from all angles regarding controversial and rapidly evolving fields of biomedical research. At the University of Auckland, I completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) specialising in Biomedical Science. I studied the brain from all angles, from pharmacology to psychology to genetics to developmental biology, and was relieved to find out that I could pursue a career in neuroscience research in a way that incorporated a range of biomedical research fields. What is the focus of your research and why? What do you hope your research will achieve if successful? I have been very fortunate to have worked in two different research teams. I completed my PhD with Professor Bronwen Connor in the Neural Reprogramming and Repair Group in the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Auckland. Here I converted human skin cells from people with Huntington’s into neurons. As a post-doctoral researcher, I am now under the mentorship of Professor Maurice Curtis in the Human Brain Plasticity and Neurodegenerative Diseases Group in the Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging at the University of Auckland. I am part of exciting collaborations with medicinal chemists to design new drugs targeting the earliest signs of neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s. Why is this area important? New Zealand has an ageing population. The number of people affected by neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, is expected to increase over the next couple of decades. Neurodegenerative conditions are unwelcome visitors in people’s brains that can stop them and their loved ones from living the lives they want to live. As neuroscientists, our goal is to contribute to discovering a cure or treatment that will directly improve the lives of those affected by these conditions. What do you find most rewarding about your work? To wake up every morning and know that what I do contributes to something that could be life-changing. I find it incredibly rewarding and humbling being able to engage with the community and meet those who are affected by the conditions we are trying to treat and the incredible Meet a researcher: Ruth Monk Photo courtesy of the University of Auckland