University Of Auckland PhD Students Awarded Scholarships Worth Nearly $500K By Neurological Foundation

Dementia and brain cancer research at the University of
Auckland has received a significant boost with funding of
three doctoral students just announced by the Neurological
Foundation.

Each scholarship is worth $166,174. This
means a total of nearly $500,000 is being injected into
pushing vital research forward. The three recipients are:
Mikayla Chetty (Alzheimer’s disease); Jean Yu Lim
(dementia); and Benjamin Watkin (glioblastoma)

Dr Amy
Smith, who’ll supervise Mikayla and Jean, says, “The
Neurological Foundation plays an essential role in advancing
New Zealand’s neurological research, thanks to the
incredible generosity of its supporters. This funding is
vital for training the next generation of scientists and for
ensuring that talented researchers remain at the forefront
of global neuroscience, addressing the unique needs of our
communities.

“As I now embark on establishing my own
lab, I reflect on the pivotal early-career funding that set
me on my path,” says Amy. “Today, these awards enable me
to build a research team and mentor PhD students,
accelerating the delivery of our cutting-edge research to
New Zealanders affected by neurological disorders. This
funding is a significant boost for sustaining our research
future and retaining young talent in New
Zealand.

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“This investment in people and
research is a cornerstone for a strong future in New Zealand
neuroscience, one that is committed to both scientific
advancement and improving lives.”

The
young researchers are driven by a desire to make
breakthroughs in finding treatments.

Jean says, “I
have family members who passed away from neurological
diseases and know the heavy impact a disease can have, not
only on the patients themselves but on all of their families
and loved ones. I am honoured to be given the opportunity to
conduct my own research in a field I am passionate about,
with the ultimate goal of improving the treatment of
dementia for all New Zealanders.”

Mikayla says,
“In a field where so much is yet to be understood,
dedicated research time funded by this scholarship allows me
to contribute meaningful insights that could potentially
translate into future therapies. This funding is invaluable
in supporting my long-term goal of becoming a leader in
neuroscience research.”

Benjamin says he is driven
to pursue research that could make a difference for people
facing neurological conditions. “I am deeply motivated by
the potential to solve both global and local health
challenges, particularly those affecting the people of New
Zealand. A PhD will give me the opportunity to further my
expertise, engage in advanced research, and support efforts
to create new treatments.”

Scholarship
details

Mikayla
Chetty:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the
most common neurodegenerative disorder, projected to affect
70,000 New Zealanders by the end of this decade. AD leads to
severe cognitive decline and significantly impacts patients’
quality of life, as well as that of their families.
Inflammation is widespread in AD. Microglia, the brain’s
immune cells, play a central role in this inflammation,
which can worsen the disease. Also, the blood-brain barrier
(BBB), which normally protects the brain, becomes damaged.
This research project will uncover how microglia impact the
BBB and contribute to AD progression, revealing new
mechanisms for future treatments.

Jean Yu
Lim:

Dementia is a disease of aging, but we
don’t fully understand the difference between normal and
diseased aging. Microglia, the brain’s immune cells,
become prematurely aged in dementia and accumulate to harm
other brain cells. We now need to uncover the mechanisms
behind this premature cell aging to safeguard the brain from
neurodegeneration. This project will use human brain cells
and tissue to understand more about the abnormal aging of
microglia in dementia and discover new drug targets,
ultimately transforming the treatment of
dementia.

Benjamin
Watkin:

Glioblastoma, the most aggressive
adult brain tumour, is highly invasive and currently
incurable. This research aims to explore how glioblastoma
invades healthy brain tissue, focusing on the extracellular
matrix (ECM) and immune system factors. This study will
examine how changes in ECM composition, influenced by
stromal cells and immune factors like Osteopontin, drive
tumour spread. By analysing tumour tissues and using
advanced organoid models, our research seeks to identify
mechanisms that promote invasion, potentially leading to new
treatments. This work is vital for New Zealand, where
glioblastoma is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths,
especially among Māori children.

Benjamin volunteers
with Manaaki Manawa, an outreach program inspiring Māori
and Pasifika youth to pursue careers in STEM, and is a
technician in the Hugh Green Biobank for neurosurgery
tissue. His PhD is supervised by Professor Michael
Dragunow, Dr Justin Rustenhoven, Dr Thomas Park and Dr Jena
Macapagal Foliaki, at the University of Auckland’s Centre
for Brain Research.

Dr Amy
Smith is an Aotearoa Research Fellow in the
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology &
Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland.
Following her PhD in 2013, she worked with research teams at
the University of Oxford, and the UK Dementia Research
Institute at Imperial College London.

About
the Neurological Foundation:

The Neurological
Foundation funds life-changing research through the generous
donations of supporters. It also spreads the word about
neurological conditions so that Kiwis remain informed and
updated through free public events.

Since 1971,
research funded by the Foundation has given neurologists a
greater understanding of conditions such as Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, motor neuron disease, stroke,
multiple sclerosis, migraine, epilepsy, dementia, traumatic
brain injury and dozens of other conditions.

The work
of many researchers and clinicians funded by the Foundation
has led to numerous ground-breaking discoveries. Recent
advances have led to successful treatment options for some
of these conditions where previously no treatment existed.
For example, clot retrieval – a game-changer in stroke
treatment – became a reality in New Zealand in 2011 under
the guidance of Professor Alan Barber, the Neurological
Foundation Chair of Clinical
Neurology.

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