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2 Headlines Editor Danelle Clayton Contributors Thorne Snow Stephanie Murdoch Design The Design Cellar Ltd On the cover Dr Thomas Park from the University of Auckland's Centre for Brain Research, and Dr Rachael Sumner, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Auckland. Image by Dean Carruthers. 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 Theresa Liebenberg – 027 233 0710 theresa.liebenberg@neurological.org.nz Margie Carter – 021 042 8114 margie.carter@neurological.org.nz Headlines is printed on paper from responsible resources For many of us, the new year is a time of reflection, a celebration of what was and can be. This New Year’s was a little different. We’re all coming to terms with a third year of a global pandemic, one that sometimes feels without an end. We have had to reconsider what is important to us, find new ways to keep communicating with one another, and revisit our goals and aspirations for the future. Sometimes though, this can feel like a big challenge. It is okay to ask for help, and it is important to check in with those around us to support themwhen they need help. Be kind and supportive, as these are difficult times. Last year, COVID-19 disrupted 92 research projects. Experiments destroyed, schedules abandoned, and breakthroughs hidden away. While labs across the country sat empty, over 1,000,000 Kiwis continued to be affected by a neurological condition. Kate, a supporter with epilepsy, shares her story on page 8. As this edition of Headlines goes to print, Omicron is active in our community. We have done what we can, providing researchers with extensions, wage subsidies, and working expenses – but such support is expensive. That is why we have dedicated this issue of Headlines to Give the Green Light , a national campaign to get researchers back to doing what they do best: gaining a greater understanding of neurological conditions, developing new treatment and prevention methods, and finding cures. Last month we kicked off our events calendar with Women in Science. This digital event series gave insight into the women who are making incredible strides in the world of neuroscience. We learnt about their careers, passions, and of course, their research. To watch any of these events, please visit our lecture library on our website: neurological.org.nz/what-we-do/ awareness-and-education/lecture-library . Our annual Brain Awareness Month events have also gone digital – the schedule of which you can find on page 3. This is to ensure we keep you, our supporters, our team, and our researchers safe. At the end of 2021, for our second grant round of the year, we received research applications amounting to nearly $10 million. Thanks to our supporters, we were able to fund just over $2.6 million worth. To find out more about what we funded, please go to page 12. Research is now more difficult than ever, and we wish our new grant recipients the very best for a successful start to their research initiatives. No matter where this year takes us, we are ready. With your support, we can give our researchers the green light and continue on the pathway to hope. Mā te wā, Rich Easton Message from our Chief Executive Our upcoming events Ask a neurologist Brain Awareness Month 2022 How the pandemic affects research What the green light means to Kate A closer look at a condition: Epilepsy Latest research grant round – 2021B Psoriasis during pregnancy linked to foetal brain development? Emerging treatments for glioblastoma Neurological research from around the globe Contents 3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-14 15 16-17 18-19