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Professor Bronwen Connor & her love of the brain Remembering Dr Gavin Glasgow, a founder Multiple sclerosis: itch-drug could offer new hope From roller derby to brain research Batten disease clinical trials How COVID-19 changes brain cells Meet a researcher: Ruth Monk Study improves detection of optic nerve swelling Welcome to our winter edition, I hope you are looking forward to a good read! If you have been a long-time supporter of the Neurological Foundation, you will have noticed how Headlines has evolved over the years. We continue to work on improvements, as it is such an important tool to keep you up-to-date with the impact you make by investing in neurological research. This winter issue of Headlines is in a slightly different format, as the grant round summary will appear in the spring edition this time. This has freed up space for additional stories about science and research. One of the exciting clinical trials we feature in this issue relates to patients with multiple sclerosis. With funding from the Neurological Foundation, Associate Professor Bronwyn Kivell and Professor Anne La Flamme received approval to proceed with a clinical trial of a drug normally used for kidney patients, which is showing promise for sufferers of this awful disease. Some of the scientists we support have expanded their focus to include COVID-19, as neurological complications of the virus continue to emerge. Scientists at the University of Otago have been injecting cultured brain cells with strains of the virus to better understand why this is happening. The Foundation helped to establish the lab where this fascinating research is being undertaken. This is a great example of how our funding often has long-term benefits that can’t be imagined at the time. A special thanks to Claire Lacey for sharing her story of how a traumatic brain injury changed the course of her life, ending her sporting dreams but also leading her down a new path. Today, Claire studies the intersection of poetry and brain injury, and she shares one of her poems on page 11. For those wanting to view upcoming funding opportunities, we will continue to post these on our website at neurological.org.nz. We are finding this a simpler way to keep this information up-to-date and accessible for our readers. Finally, a reminder that our Annual General Meeting is approaching and will be held on 23 September in Christchurch. At this meeting the Foundation will be putting forward some small changes to our Rules & Objects document for Members to vote on. These proposed changes are summarised on our website. If you do not have Internet access and would like to view the changes, please phone us and we can post a copy to you. Otherwise, we warmly welcome you to join us at our AGM if you are able. Mā te wā, Rich Easton Editor Danelle Clayton Designer Mustika McGrath ISSN 0114-9768 CONTACTUS Neurological Foundation, PO Box 110022 Auckland Hospital, Auckland 1148 Phone: 09 309 7749 Free call: 0508 BRAINS (0508 272 467) Email: info@neurological.org.nz Website: neurological.org.nz If you are moving, please let us know your new address so that you don’t miss the next issue of Headlines. DONOR RELATIONS CONTACTS Upper North Island Donor Relations Specialist Theresa Liebenberg – 027 233 0710 theresa.liebenberg@neurological.org.nz Lower North Island Donor Relations Specialist Margie Carter – 021 042 8114 margie.carter@neurological.org.nz South Island Donor Relations Specialist Kellie Bain – 027 478 8536 kellie.bain@neurological.org.nz Contents 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18-19 Headlines are printed on paper from responsible resources Message from our Chief Executive