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CLEAN nsights into Maryam’s team will collect a rich tapestry of information about each participant as they embark on an 18-month period of sustained abstinence from methamphetamine. During this time, participants will undergo four MRI scans and regular cognitive testing. They’ll also be supported by community, wrap-around programmes, health organisations, and receive a personalised mix of treatments, including medication, mental health support, and cultural group therapy. In parallel, researchers will gather detailed clinical information – such as how long each person has used meth, howmany times they’ve tried to quit, whether they’ve experienced other addictions or childhood trauma, and whether they live with conditions like ADHD or other health issues. Bringing these three strands together – brain imaging, treatment approaches, and personal history – the researchers hope to reveal a strong evidence-base of why some people recover successfully. What sets this project apart is the extraordinary level of detail. AdvancedMR imaging techniques enable researchers to detect subtle changes in brainmicrostructure, function, circulation, and metabolism in response to treatment. “This uniquely positions the research as a first-of-its-kind exploration in Aotearoa and internationally,” Maryam says. “By closely linking brain imaging biomarkers to clinical outcomes, our study aims to improve understanding of the neurobiological recovery process and support the development of more personalised treatment approaches.” This isn’t the first time Mātai has led research into meth recovery. The project builds on a successful pilot imaging study funded by the Fred Lewis Enterprise Foundation and led by Associate Professor Miriam Scadeng. In this new phase, the team has an ongoing collaboration with a community-engagement group led by Wendy Mohi, which is achieving incredible outcomes in an initiative that follows the recovery of eight methamphetamine users. Remarkably, not a single participant dropped out – a sign that the combined support/research model is working. Maryam hopes that the close collaboration between the scientific team and the community armwill replicate that success. In this expanded study, participants will receive even more support, including increased access to mental health services and cultural group therapy – measures the team hopes will further improve the chances of lasting recovery. MRI images of brains of patients recovering from methamphetamine addiction. An inside view of an UHC MRI machine at the Mātai Medical Research Institute. Headlines 7 Dr MaryamTayebi