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Dr Taylor Stevenson & Dr Justin Rustenhoven The University of Auckland $277,184 Parkinson’s disease This research aims to understand how the brain clears waste, and how this process goes wrong in Parkinson’s disease. In Parkinson’s, harmful proteins build up around the brain’s borders, causing inflammation and blocking the brain’s natural waste clearance process. By focusing on these areas outside the brain’s protective barrier, which are easier to reach with treatments, this work could lead to new ways to slow disease progression. In the future, the findings of this study may also help to guide treatments for other age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Taylor has also been awarded a Philip Wrightson Fellowship. Professor Anne La Flamme Victoria University of Wellington $211,400 Multiple sclerosis This research explores a new treatment approach for brain inflammation seen in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. It focuses on Tet-29, a synthetic molecule that helps regulate immune cell movement into the brain, reducing harmful inflammation while allowing normal immune function. Using animal models, the study will examine how Tet-29 interacts with specific chemical signals that guide immune cells. The goal is to develop safer therapies that target just the damaging immune responses while maintaining the healthy ones. Dr Caroline Walker The University of Auckland $179,111 Preterm brain injury This research investigates how early brain scans in babies born moderately-to-late preterm (MLP) relate to their brain development and learning abilities at school age. Researchers have found that many MLP babies show early signs of brain changes that disappear by full- term age. By scanning these children again at age 6 to 7, the study aims to see if those early changes affect later brain growth and development. The findings could help identify children at risk earlier, leading to better support, early interventions, and improved long-term outcomes. PHILIP WRIGHTSON FELLOWSHIPS Dr Joshua McGeown Mātai Medical Research Institute $263,984 Traumatic brain injury Many athletes in collision sports suffer repeated head impacts, which may lead to brain damage and higher risk for neurodegenerative disease. This damage is often “invisible” because there is no noticeable bruising or swelling, and standard medical imaging doesn't show abnormalities. This fellowship will be used to collect clinical data and advanced brain scans from both active and retired athletes to track how head impacts affect the brain over time. In collaboration with the Former Athlete Brain Health Research program in Australia, the aim is to identify early signs of brain damage and develop better ways to prevent and treat injuries. Dr Taylor Stevenson The University of Auckland $235,694 Parkinson’s disease This fellowship ties in with Taylor’s project grant to investigate the brain’s waste clearance as a promising avenue for finding treatments for Parkinson’s disease. This significant grant will allow Taylor to travel to Washington University in St Louis to learn the latest imaging techniques for this exciting new area of research. We catch up with Taylor in the next edition of Headlines about the benefits of this double-grant. FIRST FELLOWSHIPS Meghan Mulligan The University of Otago Mentor: Associate Professor Louise Bicknell $228,652 Rare neurodevelopmental disorders This fellowship will explore how changes in specific genes (ELAVL3 and ELAVL4) may cause brain development disorders. These genes help control important proteins for healthy brain function. The research project will look at how faults in these genes affect protein behaviour inside cells and may negatively impact brain development. Identifying the genetic causes of development disorders helps families receive answers and more personalised support and clinical care. Headlines 11