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Headlines 7 “With the samples we collect, we mimic the radiation they would receive in the clinic and isolate the resistant cells from many donated patient specimens. We can then experiment to see what drugs or treatments best mitigate the spread of those resistant cells,” Thomas explains. “At the Hugh Green Biobank at the Centre for Brain Research, we were really fortunate to be receiving 30 to 40 precious samples of glioblastoma tumours annually from patients who had undergone surgery at Auckland Hospital.” “When the first local COVID-19 case was announced in 2020, all tissue donations were immediately halted for over 12 months until more was understood about the novel virus. This greatly hampered our progress in the lab.” When tumour tissue donations were re-established, the researchers would spend months isolating cells and preparing to test drugs and treatments, only to be forced to abandon the cell-lines each time a lockdown was announced. “COVID-19 related interruptions have created great problems for our research. It also made it difficult to recruit graduate students. The project is heavily reliant on graduates as they drive the day-to-day research, and it takes some time to train them.” The project has received two COVID-19 extensions from the Neurological Foundation to ensure this critical research is seen through to the end. The silver lining During lockdown, Thomas worked with the Auckland Bioengineering Institute on a side project to develop an algorithm to predict how a GBM tumour will spread. Using machine learning models, they were able to quantify complex tumour cell migration patterns from 3D tumour- spheres. This algorithm is now being used to analyse all data collected from this project. “We will also collect fresh specimens again (post-Omicron), and we have recruited and trained two postgraduates this year to investigate how drugs affect radiation-induced migration, which is the really exciting part. I’m looking forward to having an uninterrupted year working on this project with my talented postgraduates.” Major conferences cancelled Another challenge COVID-19 has posed to the research community is the opportunity to gather to collaborate and share ideas in person. The highlight of the neuroscientists' calendar – the Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR) – was to be held in Queenstown in August 2021. It was shifted to December, and then postponed to August 2022. The annual conference features plenary lectures and is a chance for researchers to foster collaborations. Treasurer, Dr Joanne Lin, says it is a shame to miss out on the spontaneous discussions and brainstorming that can result from encounters at meetings and conferences. “The benefits for students and early career researchers are enormous. The conference provides valuable experience in preparation and presentation of research, feedback from a knowledgeable and interested audience, and exposure to progress in fields beyond their own area of study.” “The AWCBR Committee looks forward to being able to proceed with the conference in August 2022 and reclaim some of the joy of in-person meetings,” Joanne says. “COVID-19 related interruptions have created great problems for our research. It also made it difficult to recruit graduate students. The project is heavily reliant on graduates as they drive the day-to-day research, and it takes some time to train them.” Dr Thomas Park